ESG And The Role Of Professional Advisors

I attended the Barclays Professional Services Conference at the Institute of Chartered Accountants this week, exploring the theme "Thriving in a changing world". It was an opportunity to share and listen to some useful insights into the challenges and opportunities for professional service firms.

A diverse range of expert speakers identified key issues including AI, ESG and climate change, inflationary pressures and conflicts around the world and their potential impacts for professional advisers.

I spoke on the ESG panel about the challenges of sustainability and climate change including the need for firms to understand and manage their supply chain scope 3 risks, including business travel policies and collation and verification of ESG data. Brand and reputational issues and the threat of greenwashing challenges are also critical considerations.