The World Economic Forum (WEF) is widely regarded as a leading global voice for business. One of its key annual publications, the Global Risks Report, highlights the most pressing challenges facing the world in the coming years. The 2025 edition* presents a stark outlook, with environmental risks—such as extreme weather, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem collapse—dominating the global risk landscape for the next decade.
The accountancy profession has a crucial role to play in helping businesses navigate these risks and adapt to a rapidly changing world. ICAEW invites current students and recently qualified members to share their views and insights on the essay question:
How should the accounting profession help organisations increase their resilience to the effects of environmental risks by changing the way they do business?
Possible areas to explore:
- How can accountants address the interconnected challenges of climate change, nature loss and social inequality?
- What role does the accountancy profession have? How can accountants leverage their position within organisations to drive action on climate & nature?
- Why is a rapid net zero, nature-positive transition needed?
- How can the profession support climate adaptation efforts?
- What are the skills and capabilities the profession needs to achieve this at pace?
- What are the roles of business, government, the public sector, and civil society?
- What are the obstacles/barriers to, and the opportunities of a nature positive, just transition?
- What examples of excellence are there?
