Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy

Unit 4

sustainability

Useful Links and Resources

Government
Sustainability accounting and reporting
Procurement
Other sustainability resources

GOVERNMENT

Audit Commission
Includes information and case studies on sustainability topics including: reducing CO2 emissions, renewable energy, sustainable procurement and sustainable communities.
www.audit-commission.gov.uk/Pages/default.aspx

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Hosts the sustainable development in government website (see below) as well as being a source of other relevant information including food sustainability.
www.defra.gov.uk

Department of energy and climate change
Deals with energy policy and climate change
www.decc.gov.uk/default.aspx

DirectGov
Includes section on environment and greener living
www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/index.htm

Environment Agency
Information on environmental infrastructure, waste, water and climate change. The Environment Agency is the administrator of the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx

National Audit Office
Recent reports have examined the Government’s efforts to reduce household energy consumption and programmes to encourage the move to a low carbon economy
www.nao.org.uk/our_work_by_sector/environment,_sustainability.aspx

Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, Northern Ireland – Sustainable Development
Includes Sustainable development strategy for Northern Ireland and useful links
www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/index/economic-policy/economic-policy-sustainable-development.htm

Scottish Government – Sustainable Development
Information on policies, initiatives, measuring progress, funds, publications and more
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/SustainableDevelopment

Sustainable development in government
UK Government website for sustainable development
http://sd.defra.gov.uk/

Welsh Assembly Government – Sustainable Development
These web pages provide information, help, support and guidance on the sustainability policies of the Welsh Assembly Government and how they are being delivered
wales.gov.uk/topics/sustainabledevelopment

SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING

Federation of European Accountants
Has produced policy statements and position papers on sustainability
www.fee.be

HMT sustainability reporting guidance (for central government)
Public Sector annual reports: Sustainability reporting guidance
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/frem_sustainability.htm

IFAC Sustainability Framework
The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has published a sustainability Framework for accountants interested in how to integrate sustainability into their organisation’s objectives, strategies and management.
www.ifac.org/publications-resources/ifac-sustainability-framework-20

The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project
Resources include the "Connected Reporting Framework" and the A4S Decision-Making tool.
www.accountingforsustainability.org

Examples of public sector sustainability reporting:

The Crown Estate: Sustainability report
www.thecrownestate.co.uk/sustainability

Environment Agency: Annual report (including sustainability report)
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/aboutus/work/35704.aspx

Highways Agency annual report (including sustainability report) http://www.highways.gov.uk/aboutus/32107.aspx

Woking Borough Council: Annual sustainability report
www.woking.gov.uk/environment/sustain

West Sussex Council: Annual sustainability reports
www.westsussex.gov.uk/your_council/countil_tax_and_finance/financial_report_and_accounts.aspx

PROCUREMENT

Local government sustainable procurement strategy (IDeA & LGA, 2007)
www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=5246448

Sustainable food – A guide for hospitals (Department of Health, 2009)
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_098881

Sustainable Procurement Toolkit
http://www.forumforthefuture.org/project/buying-better-world-sustainable-procurement/overview

Ethical procurement for health: guidelines
www.ethicaltrade.org/ethical-procurement-for-health

Ecolabelled Products and Services in the UK (DEFRA, 2008)
ecolabel.defra.gov.uk/pdfs/ecolabel_product_guide.pdf

Sustainable procurement cupboard
The website includes case studies, tools, primary documents, and contacts to deliver on multiple public sector targets
www.procurementcupboard.org

OTHER SUSTAINABILITY RESOURCES

Carbon Trust
Includes sector specific carbon saving advice and administers the Carbon Trust Standard
www.carbontrust.co.uk/Pages/Default.aspx

Energy Savings Trust
Advice and information on saving energy, conserving water and reducing waste
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/business

Forum for the future
An independent, non-profit organisation with a mission to promote sustainable development. Helping businesses and public service providers to manage the risks, find opportunities, and implement change.
www.forumforthefuture.org.uk

Homes and Communities Agency
Resources on sustainable development
http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/ourwork/sustainable-development

Nottingham declaration on climate change
www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=14385

Scotland’s climate change declaration
Includes links to local carbon management plans and reports
www.sustainable-scotland.net/climatechange

Waterwise
Water efficiency in the UK
www.waterwise.org.uk

Welsh climate change declaration
http://www.wlga.gov.uk/english/archive-of-reports9/welsh-climate-change-declaration

WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme)
Works with local authorities, business and households to prevent waste, increase recycling and develop markets for recycled and sustainable products.
www.wrap.org.uk/wrap_corporate/about_wrap