ABSTRACT
The AccountAbility1000 (AA) Assurance Standard offers a unique opportunity to resurrect assurance, phoenix-like, from the ashes of Enron, WorldCom and other trust-eroding corporate disasters. The AA1000 Assurance Standard is designed to cover assurance processes across the spectrum of sustainability issues. It is compatible with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) in that it provides guidance to global reporters using the GRI guidelines. The consultation process for the AA1000 Assurance Standard has been thorough, benefiting from input from a wide range of organisations. As more and more companies and assurance providers are guided by the AA1000 Assurance Standard, the credibility of corporate responsibility will increase, with a corresponding decrease in apathy. Reporting should become more focused, credible and, most importantly, useful to stakeholders. A major challenge facing the field of assurance will be to build capacity among assurance providers. The AA1000 Assurance Standard provides useful guidance in this emerging field.
