Smith & Williamson wins sustainability audit contract with International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance
Smith & Williamson, the accountancy and financial services group, has won a recent bid to provide expert advice on how the International Carbon Reduction and Offsets Alliance (ICROA) can audit the activities of its members. The audits will ensure that ICROA members are abiding by the organisation's Code of Best Practice.
Carbon reduction advice and the supply of offsets are part of a complicated and fast-changing industry with differing regulations and targets across the world. Smith & Williamson, part of Nexia International, already has relevant experience including carbon auditing and the taxation of carbon offsets. Denis Burn, director at Smith & Williamson, said that: "We are delighted to be helping ICROA at this early stage. These are massively important topics to which we can bring ideas, experience and commitment to the pursuit of low-carbon ways of living."
Tom Stoddard, ICROA Co-Chair commented that "ICROA is successfully setting down best practice standards for our market. The organisation was only created last year but already it is clear that the ICROA name is a hallmark for the highest standards. ICROA looks to firms such as Smith & Williamson, which have reached beyond financial auditing, to bring their auditing expertise to the voluntary carbon market."
ICROA is a new industry membership organisation with 10 member companies spread across Europe, US and Australia. These companies are all involved in helping businesses and individuals to measure their carbon footprint, to take steps to reduce carbon emissions and to offset emissions they cannot avoid.
With its Code of Best Practice, ICROA is setting standards of best practice that will ensure that internal and external reductions meet the strictest conditions. For example, under the ICROA Code of Best Practice, the measurement of carbon footprints must be to international standards such as ISO 14064*. Likewise, members of ICROA may only supply carbon offsets that are verified, validated and registered under one of four specific standards: Clean Development Mechanism, Gold Standard, Voluntary Carbon Standard or Joint Implementation.
For more information contact:
Denis Burn, director at Smith & Williamson
on 0117 376 2222
or denis.burn@smith.williamson.co.uk
Or visit: www.smith.williamson.co.uk or www.icroa.org
*International Organization for Standardization - standard on greenhouse gases.
PR enquiries to:
Jess Koslow/ Kate Harrison 0207 131 4264/ 4228
Note to editors
Smith & Williamson is an independent professional and financial services group employing over 1,500 people. The group is a leading provider of investment management, financial advisory and accountancy services to private clients, professional practices and mid-to-large corporates. It operates from offices in London, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Glasgow, Guildford, Maidstone, North London, Salisbury, Southampton and Worcester.
Nexia Smith & Williamson Audit Limited is an independent company which works alongside Smith & Williamson to complement its specialist financial advisory services.
Smith & Williamson Investment Management is part of the Smith & Williamson group.
Smith & Williamson Limited Regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for a range of investment business activities. A member of Nexia International
Nexia Smith & Williamson Audit Limited Registered to carry on audit work and regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for a range of Investment business activities. A member of Nexia International
Smith & Williamson Financial Services Limited Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority
Smith & Williamson Corporate Finance Limited Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority A member of the London Stock Exchange A member of M&A International
Smith & Williamson Investment Management Limited Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority
Smith & Williamson Investment Management, a trading name of NCL Investments Limited (member of the London Stock Exchange) and Smith & Williamson Investment Management Limited. Both companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
NCL Investments Limited A member of the London Stock Exchange Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority
Smith & Williamson Fund Administration Limited Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority
About ICROA
The International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance (ICROA), is a not for profit alliance of leading carbon reduction and offset providers. It provides leadership and a unified voice advocating for rigorous industry standards. ICROA members support a "reduce and offset" approach to carbon management, and they all comply with the ICROA Code of Best Practice. As described by ICROA's Code of Best Practice, carbon management is a comprehensive approach to assessing and reducing an organisation's carbon footprint. Comprehensive carbon management requires:
- Measuring carbon footprints according to accepted international standards
- Setting emissions reduction targets based on scientific assessments
- Reducing net CO2 emissions by: - Achieving reductions within the organisation - Using real, permanent, and additional offsets
ICROA members currently serve thousands of businesses and hundreds of thousands of individuals. The member companies are:
Carbon Clear
The CarbonNeutral Company
ClimateCare
Climate Friendly
Climate Neutral Group
co2balance
First Climate
Native Energy
targetneutral
TerraPass
