Leading on ESG as a Global Alliance & Enabling Our Firms to Support Clients
With 8,000+ professionals serving over 500,000 companies worldwide, we are uniquely positioned to effect positive change at scale, both in how we operate as an alliance and in how we empower our member firms to deliver ESG advisory, reporting, and carbon strategy services to international businesses.
We are still early in our ESG journey, but you can read below the meaningful first steps we are taking to becoming a more responsible and future-ready alliance.
Reducing our environmental footprint at alliance events
We are taking practical steps to reduce our environmental impact as an organisation. One key focus has been our conferences held all over the world. We have significantly reduced our use of paper by introducing digital programs, QR codes and app-based communications, and delegate badges are made from recycled paper. By setting a digital-first standard at our events, we aim to model sustainability and encourage and reward similar behaviour within our member firms as we target a lower-carbon future.
Joining the UN Global Compact
We are proud to be a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. By joining this initiative, we have formally committed to aligning our alliance’s operations and strategies with the UN’s Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment, and anti-corruption. This step not only reflects our values but also signals to clients, stakeholders, and member firms that we take our role in the global ESG movement seriously. We also submit an annual Communication on Progress (COP) to demonstrate accountability. This public commitment reflects our values as an alliance and reinforces our support for member firms aiming to align with globally recognised ESG standards.
Advising on ESG disclosure, risk & carbon credit opportunities
We are developing a dedicated ESG advisory framework to support our member firms in guiding established SMEs and international mid-sized companies through the complexities of ESG. This includes helping businesses assess their ESG readiness, understand voluntary reporting standards, and prepare for future regulatory demands.
Member firms also offer guidance on carbon credit strategies, emissions tracking, and participation in voluntary carbon markets, helping clients align environmental responsibility with financial value. By bringing together legal, accounting, and tax expertise across borders, our alliance is well-positioned to help businesses take meaningful, strategic action on ESG.
Selecting sustainable partners
As part of our commitment to sustainability, we now prioritise working with hotels and venues across the world that demonstrate strong environmental practices. Whether it is choosing conference hotels that have green certifications, reduce food waste, or rely on renewable energy sources, we aim to ensure our spending reflects our values. This approach also helps raise awareness across our alliance of responsible procurement, encouraging global offices to consider sustainability in their own supply chain choices and client engagements.
Encouraging low-emission travel
Our Executive Office team and events staff are encouraged to make sustainable travel choices whenever possible. For local and airport transfers, we partner with Uber Business and actively seek green transportation options such as EVs or hybrid taxis. While business travel remains a key part of global collaboration, we believe small changes such as how we move between cities and venues, can have a cumulative impact. This principle also supports our broader ambition to be more environmentally conscious in how we run our events and operations across regions.
Promoting diversity in leadership
We strongly believe that diversity in leadership in terms of gender, race, skills, experience, as well as socio-economic, educational and professional background, leads to better governance, stronger decision-making, and a more inclusive alliance.
Hence we are actively working to improve the diversity of our leadership structure, including our regional committees and the Worldwide Board. Darsi Casey served as our first woman Worldwide Chair from 2021-2024. Member firms are encouraged to put forward women candidates for leadership roles and take steps internally to ensure greater visibility and inclusion for underrepresented voices.