Amit Verma, Sustainability Policy Manager
Sustainability at CIPFA – Reflections from 2024
Public Finance professionals play a crucial role in driving the sustainability agenda to meet the complex challenges of the 21st century, including the transition to net zero, whilst achieving economic stability. Organisations including CIPFA have a crucial role to play in this transition. Sustainability forms the basis of business operations across the three key pillars of CIPFA – CIPFA Thinks, CIPFA Develops and CIPFA Supports. In 2024, CIPFA further integrated sustainability into its activities through increased participation in debates, roundtables and conferences, notably the PF Live conference at Manchester and the CIPFA joint conference with Centre of Excellence in Finance (CEF) in Slovenia.
Advancing sustainability through professional development
CIPFA Develops has also played a key role in 2024, delivering training and professional development programmes that integrate sustainability into the skillset of public finance professionals. A key focus this year has been the revision of the CIPFA Competency Framework to better reflect the growing importance of sustainability. This revision aims to ensure that finance professionals are equipped with the knowledge and expertise needed to navigate an increasingly complex sustainability landscape.
Among other significant activities, the launch of the CIPFA – ICAEW Sustainability Certificate and the development of an e-learning course in Introduction to Sustainability in Procurement e-learning reflects the organisation’s ongoing commitment to fostering sustainable skills and knowledge among public finance professionals. CIPFA also delivered training on sustainability and green finance to members at Hertfordshire County Council in November 2024.
Strengthening sustainability support
Within CIPFA Supports, 2024 has seen continued focus on providing tools and resources that help members integrate sustainability into their work. The development of the CIPFA Sustainability Dashboard, and the release of the Achieving Financial Excellence in Policing – Sustainability Status Report and Toolkit are two examples of initiatives designed to support professionals in managing sustainability within their specific sectors.
In November 2024, the launch of IPSASB Climate-related disclosures sustainability reporting standard in collaboration with ICAEW marked a significant step forward in the ever-growing close partnership between the two institutes. This in-person launch event marked the introduction of the first public sector sustainability reporting standard. This innovative initiative highlights CIPFA’s continued commitment to ensuring that public finance professionals are prepared for the emerging challenges of sustainability reporting. CIPFA is preparing a joint response with ICAEW to the IPSASB SRS ED consultation.
An inside-out approach: Leveraging CIPFA’s internal strengths
At CIPFA, sustainability is not just about external influence—it’s also about leading by example. The organisation has adopted an “inside-out” approach to sustainability, leveraging its own strengths and capabilities to make real change within its operations. In 2024, CIPFA conducted an internal audit of its sustainability activities to identify past successes and future opportunities for growth.
One example of progress in this direction was the revision of CIPFA’s internal carbon plan in December 2024 which included the engagement of an external sustainability platform to assess CIPFA’s carbon emissions baseline. The internal carbon project will be progressed further in 2025 and aligns with CIPFA’s long term vision to be a carbon neutral organisation by 2050.
Outlook for 2025 and beyond
In 2025, CIPFA plans to continue building on its progress, focusing on key areas like carbon management, sustainability reporting, and green skills development.
The organisation will continue to forge strong partnerships with other professional bodies, including GRI, IFRS and IPSASB to advance sustainability within public finance.
Through continued professional development, innovative tools, and close collaboration with other organisations, CIPFA continues to be best placed to support public finance professionals in their journey toward achieving net-zero emissions. The Institute’s ongoing work in sustainability reporting, green finance, and capacity building will ensure that members are not only prepared for the future but are actively involved in shaping it.
As CIPFA moves into 2025 and beyond, the vision is clear: by fostering sustainability within its own operations and supporting the broader public finance community, the organisation will continue to lead the way in creating a more sustainable, resilient future for all.