Report from the International Federation of Accountants on August 7, 2023
In September 2023, the progress of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals was already halfway through. At this critical moment, global leaders need to carefully review the progress made, the progress ahead, and the challenges facing the future.
Given that the theme of the G20 meeting is "One Earth, One Family, One Future", the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), as the global voice of the accounting industry, emphasized the importance of inclusivity in supporting sustainable development in its 2023 G20 Call to Action. We must approach sustainable development, the public sector, small and medium-sized enterprises, and education and training with an inclusive attitude, ensuring the sharing of current and future opportunities, and ensuring that economic and social development is truly sustainable.
IFAC calls on G20 leaders to:
1. Strive to turn sustainable development into a reality, not just a goal
1）Leading the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and laying the foundation for a net zero transition.
2）Support the International Sustainable Standards Board (ISSB) in developing global sustainable information disclosure benchmarks.
3）Support mandatory authentication of sustainable information in accordance with the International Standards for Sustainable Assurance Practice No. 5000 (ISSA 5000).
4）Support the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board in developing reporting standards for sustainable development in the public sector.
2. Support public financial management and combat corruption
1) Support high-quality public finance management and public sector specialization, and support the adoption of accrual accounting by governments at all levels.
2) Still focusing on the comprehensive adoption and implementation of global anti-corruption measures such as the G20 Anti Corruption Action Plan.
3. Create an innovative environment for the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises
1) Consider the unique needs of small and medium-sized enterprises when formulating global policies.
2)Support small and medium-sized enterprises to acquire digital infrastructure and related skills.
3)Provide a favorable regulatory environment for small and medium-sized enterprises
4.Education and training are prerequisites for inclusive growth.
1)Support equal educational opportunities, including engineering (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and accounting skills training.
2)Support global and local financial literacy promotion.
