Kurt Sartorius, an accounting professor at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, plans to paddle the Rio Madre, a tributary of the Amazon River, this July with his son Benn to record damage to the environment brought on by deforestation in an effort to bring climate change awareness to the accounting profession.
Sartorius, who first traversed the Amazon River in 1972, said the trip will "demonstrate clearly that climate change has no geographic borders." The trip represents a "unique opportunity for the accountancy profession in South Africa to initiate a global climate change initiative of its own," he added. He believes the profession can fight climate change by regularly featuring such news in corporate reports and strategic plans moving forward.
"The accounting profession, led by institutions like SAICA/IRBA, can emphasize integrated thinking and life-long learning and demonstrate how the corporate world can utilize this in their reporting to demonstrate their understanding and support of climate change issues," said Sartorius in a statement. "Over time, the enormous cumulative impact of corporate focus in their reporting on climate change will translate into visible progress."
Sartorius added that the investment community in Canada and internationally has bolstered its recognition of climate change in financial risk, which can also lead to lasting change.
“This is the time for the accountancy profession to become global leaders in combating climate change," Sartorius said in a statement. “The profession has all the attributes to do this, namely, the finest brains, strategic skills and the necessary resources.”
The Amazon trip will raise funds for a dedicated reforestation project in Rondonia, Brazil, managed by the University of Witwatersrand School of Accountancy and the Nacional Institute for Research in Amazonia.
“I would like to persuade the accountancy profession in Canada to sponsor [and] fund this rainforest project on the basis of the number of [kilometers] covered, as well as reach out to its internationally based partners to do the same," said Sartorius in a statement. "The funds raised will be paid into a dedicated account administered by Wits with the following link:
