AccountAbility recognised as award-winning leader in ESG

AccountAbility is featured in the Spring 2023 issue of CFI.co, which includes the firm's comprehensive view on ESG issues.

This comes after Capital Finance International (CFI.co) named the award-winning consulting and standards firm Best ESG Strategy Development Partner Global 2022 in October 2022.
The days of ignoring the impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues are over. Today, organizations of all sizes, across industries, and across geographies are working to advance the ESG agenda in ways that are transparent, meaningful, and have a genuine impact.

Corporate purpose, social impact, stakeholder engagement, environmental action, geopolitical implications, and good governance are all inextricably linked to a company's economic performance in this context. Certainly, in the coming year, businesses will be unable to ignore sustainability.

Accountability is central to this ESG universe. After nearly three decades of assisting organizations in achieving their sustainability objectives, the international advisory and standards firm has witnessed a transformational operating shift from a well-intentioned environmental and social movement to a de-facto global business priority. Sustainability is now central to business operations and, ultimately, performance. Leaders understand the financial imperatives of transitioning to a more sustainable economy, as well as the commercial opportunities that this presents.

At AccountAbility we believe that doing well and doing right are not mutually exclusive outcomes”, said AccountAbility CEO Sunil A. Misser, who is a pioneer in the field of mainstreaming ESG when sustainability was a developing academic platform that few companies recognized. 

“With decades of global experience in helping organizations meet their strategic goals, we understand how to deliver practical, effective and enduring ESG solutions that enable our clients to succeed.”

Today, the consulting and standards firm is recognized as an award-winning leader in the ESG ecosystem around the world. The firm's central purpose is to innovate and advance the global sustainability / ESG agenda by improving organizational practices, performance, and impact, and it operates globally with businesses, investors, governments, and multi-lateral organizations through a highly qualified team based in New York, London, Riyadh, and Dubai.

Misser emphasizes AccountAbility's established corporate mandate. "We are not an advocacy platform or an activist forum; rather, we are an expert ESG advisory firm that advises CEOs and Boards on how to improve their business performance."

Misser is a tireless and passionate advocate for leadership and collaboration in order to address the challenges we face and create a more sustainable future.

“A successful ESG strategy is more than a “tick-the-box” exercise. We are living in a changed world, and the leaders who step up with clear thinking, smart ideas and practical solutions will shape and architect the successful organizations of the future. We need to adopt a mindset – to plant trees under whose shade future generations will rest”, said Misser.

Using its global research and advisory experience, AccountAbility has identified seven priority trends for 2023 to assist leaders in staying ahead of the curve on sustainability issues in the coming years. 

7 Business Sustainability Trends to Watch in 2023

• Navigating the Net-Zero Environment - Against a backdrop of unprecedented climate pledges and commitments, net-zero has taken centre stage. But what exactly is it, and how can businesses engage in meaningful, effective, and transparent climate action?
• Stakeholder Activism is Increasing - As companies face increasing pressure to take a stand on a variety of sustainability issues, investors are using their clout to demand that companies address ESG issues. How should business leaders respond to this reality?
• Geopolitics: The New "G" in Environmental, Social, and Governance - How can businesses deal with geopolitical instability while remaining focused on their sustainability goals as it increasingly cuts across the ESG landscape?
• Creating a Diverse, Prepared, and Future-Oriented Board - How can changes in board composition, initially motivated by stakeholder activism, unleash the power of re-framed governance - to improve effectiveness and shape corporate action?
• Next Generation ESG Disclosure and Reporting - The consolidation of global ESG standards, as well as the shift from voluntary to mandatory disclosure, are expected to increase focus on corporate sustainability disclosure practices. What impact will these changes have on ESG reporting?
• The Road to a Sustainable Value Chain - In order to create competitive business advantages, value chains must incorporate ESG transformation towards a viable and sustainable future. How can responsible procurement assist value chains in adapting to the new normal?
• Natural Resources Will Drive Valuations - Nature-based reporting, goal-setting, and asset valuation frameworks are on the way. How will they pave the way forward for businesses as they consider their impact on Earth's natural systems across their value chains?

In an environment of low trust and high expectations, consumers and society as a whole are expecting more (and different) from business. This is exacerbated by the dizzying and sometimes perplexing pace of sustainability change.

However, with careful consideration of focus and balance, it is possible to advance the Sustainability/ESG agenda.