In order to integrate biodiversity agenda into the corporate sustainability landscape, on occasion of International Day for Biological Diversity, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) through its Sustainability Reporting Standards Board (SRSB) organized a landmark event on "Biodiversity & Business in Harmony: Roles and Opportunities for Chartered Accountants" in collaboration with the United Nations Global Compact Network India (UNGCNI) at New Delhi on May 24th 2025.
The event was inaugurated by CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda, President, ICAI along with Shri C. Achalender Reddy, IFS (Retd.), Chairperson, National Biodiversity Authority; CA. Anand Mohan Bajaj, Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General (Commercial), Office of the C&AG of India; Shri Amarjeet Singh, Whole Time Member, SEBI; in presence of Mr. Ratnesh Jha, Executive Director, UNGCNI; CA. Priti Paras Savla, Chairperson, SRSB, ICAI and CA. (Dr.) Sanjeev Kumar Singhal, Vice Chairman, SRSB, ICAI.
The event brought together over 200 participants, including sustainability professionals, industry leaders, policymakers and Chartered Accountants. It served as a dynamic platform for advancing the biodiversity agenda within the business ecosystem and exploring the critical roles finance professionals can play in this space.
On this occasion, CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda, President, ICAI, emphasized ICAI's continued efforts in integrating sustainability into the professional and business narrative. He highlighted the role of Chartered Accountants in bridging the gap between financial stewardship and environmental responsibility and elaborated on ICAI's sustainability-centric initiatives, including the development of standards, frameworks and capacity-building for professionals.
Shri C. Achalender Reddy, IFS (Retd.), Chairperson, National Biodiversity Authority, complimented ICAI for taking initiative in the field of biodiversity. He stressed on the need of aligning corporate actions with biodiversity goals. He emphasized that sustainable development must encompass biodiversity as a core principle and called for practical frameworks that embed conservation into daily business operations.
Shri Amarjeet Singh, Whole Time Member, SEBI, praised ICAI for taking a proactive lead in advancing the sustainability agenda in India. He noted that the inclusion of biodiversity into corporate sustainability disclosures is timely and essential and expressed hope for continued collaboration and innovation from the accounting and auditing community in this space.
CA. Anand Mohan Bajaj, Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General (Commercial), Office of the C&AG of India, commended ICAI’s initiatives in sustainability and standards development. He emphasized the crucial role of Chartered Accountants in meeting emerging reporting needs and preparing for future challenges in sustainability and biodiversity governance. He noted that professionals must evolve their skills and understanding to serve as effective stewards of both financial and environmental accountability.
The full day event featured insightful panel discussions on topics like Sectoral Perspectives on Business and Biodiversity; Corporate Biodiversity Strategies - From Commitment to Action and Biodiversity & Mission LiFE - Role of Professionals in Reporting and Assurance.
The deliberations emphasized empowering professionals to contribute to biodiversity metrics, sustainability disclosures and towards PM's Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) for sustainable living.
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