Carbon emissions have been a significant global concern, with calls for concerted efforts to mitigate the increasing menace daily.
Makers and Partners (MAP), a chartered accountancy firm, is the latest to add its voice to the need for stakeholders, particularly businesses, to work towards reducing their carbon emissions for sustainable growth and climate risk mitigation.
Partner at MAP, Wildred Neneh Addico, highlighted the pressing global concern of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and their impact on climate.
He emphasized the need for nations to adopt sustainable practices and innovative solutions to mitigate climate risks such as the warming of the earth, severe drought, rising sea levels, and destructive flooding.
Speaking at a professional networking event for the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG) Chartered Professional Diploma Program, Mr. Addico stressed the importance of implementing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices.
These standards ensure that individuals, organizations, and communities conduct their operations while being mindful of the negative impact of their activities on the environment.
The training program covered courses such as IT Audit, ESG, Advanced Business Analytics, IFRS, and IPSAS. Mr. Addico revealed that MAP is actively building capacity as a firm to provide consultancy services in ESG and Carbon Trading.
They have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Ecoveda Climate LLP, an Environmental Management System and Carbon Developers and Trading company based in India, to enhance their capabilities in ESG and Carbon Trading projects in Ghana and Africa.
MAP aims to support businesses in engaging key stakeholders on ESG matters, including investors, customers, employees, communities, and regulators. Their objectives also include assisting businesses in developing ESG strategies, integrating them into operations, and making appropriate disclosures that meet international standards.
Mr. Addico emphasized the importance of ESG reporting and disclosures, stating that companies need to be mindful of the environment in their operations.
He further explained that the Ghana Stock Exchange has issued ESG guidelines for listed companies to comply with, and MAP is building capacity to assist companies in ESG and Carbon practices and reporting to meet evolving regulatory requirements and investor expectations.
Partner at Resource Alliance, Akua Amoah-Boateng, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need for all stakeholders to support making the environment a healthy place. She highlighted the importance of incorporating actions to mitigate risks in day-to-day operations to meet requirements and ensure sustainability.
Businesses play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions and adopting sustainable practices for long-term growth and climate risk mitigation. By implementing ESG standards and engaging stakeholders, businesses can contribute to a healthier environment and sustainable future.
