Ethics & Sustainability Conference (Dublin)

10:30 - 11:40

Sustainable Finance & Reporting for SMEs - Dr Sean O'Reilly, University College, Dublin

Discover how to prepare your accounting practice and clients for sustainability. Seán will provide an overview of sustainable finance with focus on SMEs. The presentation will focus on some key aspect of sustainable finance including: 

• Understanding Sustainable Finance: what is sustainable finance 
• Sustainable Finance for SMEs: benefits and challenge of sustainable finance for SMEs 
• Financial Instruments and Opportunities: types of sustainable finance products and accessing funds 
• Sustainability Reporting for SMEs: key reporting frameworks, regulation and how to report effectively 
• Challenges and Opportunities of Sustainability Reporting 
• Integrating Sustainability in Business Strategy: aligning business strategy with sustainable practices

11:45 - 12:55

Session 2

Balancing Nature's Books - Dr Fiachra O'Brolchain, Dublin City University

This aim of this talk is to introduce the audience to philosophical ethics, environmental philosophy, and the debates and arguments that arise from the ongoing environmental crisis. Environmental philosophy holds that massive, often global concerns regarding climate change, species extinction, toxic pollution, and many others pose a broad and deep challenge to both moral and political thinking and to communities, today and in the future. These topics raise questions of what is permissible in terms of our relationship with the rest of the natural world, what is and is not obligatory, and the suitability of traditional ethical frameworks for addressing the current ecological challenges.

The talk will look at a number of the specific ethical dilemmas facing us in the Anthropocene and outline some of the solutions being considered. Furthermore, issues of justice, moral value, and political theory will be outlined.

The audience should gain a deeper understanding of how philosophical ethics and political theory works, a clearer view of the environmental crisis, an insight into the ways philosophical concepts frame and shape our responses to environmental challenges, and an introduction to some of the proposed solutions.

14:00 - 15:10

Session 3

Law, Ethics & Related Developments within a Business Environment - Paul Gormley, TU Dublin

The presentation will concentrate on legal developments that impact both on professional accountants in business and their clients. A review of current laws relating to money laundering, protected disclosures, General Data Protection, perjury and other related matters that may have an ethical implication on individuals will be examined. 

After the presentation individuals will have a knowledge of issues that may arise in their professional careers.  

A review of ethical situations and recent decisions of the courts and regulatory bodies will be informative and beneficial to the participant.

15:15 - 16:20

Session 4

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Overview, Challenges and Potential Business Impact - Lisa Sheenan, Queens University Belfast

This presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the role that micro- small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) can play in achieving these on a global, country and individual level. The challenges and trade offs that are faced while doing this in practice will also be highlighted, along with possible solutions and ways forward. The main aim of this presentation is to present a critical analysis of the challenges and opportunities associated with MSMEs integrating the SDGs into their business practices and operations.  

The seventeen SDGs, created in 2015, encompass 169 targets covering economic, environmental and social goals to be reached by 2030. These provide a global framework and common language for all members of society, from the individual level to a business and country level, to reach sustainability goals. However it is becoming clear that, with just under six years to go, many businesses are not on track to meet the 2030 deadline. 

As MSMEs account for the vast majority of global businesses they have a huge role to play in achieving the SDGs, however they face significant challenges in doing so. These challenges include access to clear and accurate information, as well as resourcing and other related costs. Such challenges can be acute for smaller enterprises, such as micro businesses. 

This presentation will cover ways in which these, and other MSMEs, can integrate SDGs into their operations using real life examples, initiatives and case studies.  

The potential benefits of doing so to the businesses themselves will be highlighted, such as reputational and competitive advantages.  

The wider benefits to global sustainability of this sector of the economy achieving the SDGs will also be presented, in terms of environmental, societal and economic advantages. 

Learning outcomes:  

• Understand how and why the SDGs were created; 
• List and explain the SDGs in terms of metrics, benchmarks and targets; 
• Outline the importance of MSMEs to the global economy and the fight for sustainability; 
• Discuss the benefits to MSMEs for integrating the SDGs into their business activities and operations; 
• Highlight the challenges that MSMEs face in achieving the SDGs; 
• Present strategies that MSMEs can use to integrate the SDGs into their operations; 
• Identify the benefits to global sustainability from MSMEs achieving the SDGs; 
• Critically assess where countries and businesses are in terms of meeting the SDGs; 
• Analyse some relevant case studies from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) SDG Accelerator; 
• Evaluate some empirical evidence on how MSMEs are faring in meeting the SDGs.