DAVID ROTHERA time to spring into climate action CMA says ‘no’

Microsoft’s proposed purchase of Activision (Call of Duty) has been blocked by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over concerns the deal would alter the future of the fast-growing cloud gaming market.

The CMA said that the deal would lead to a reduction in innovation and less choice for UK gamers in years to come.

The announcement comes after Microsoft’s proposed solution “failed to effectively address the concerns in the clouding sector”.

Microsoft entered into a $68.7bn deal to buy Activision, one of the most popular video games publishers in the world, in January 2022. The CMA then launched an in-depth review of the deal in September 2022, and in February 2023 provisionally found that the merger could make Microsoft even stronger in cloud gaming, stifling competition in this growing market.

Martin Coleman, chair of the independent panel of experts conducting the investigation, said: “Microsoft already enjoys a powerful position and head start over other competitors in cloud gaming and this deal would strengthen that advantage giving it the ability to undermine new and innovative competitors.” for businesses to take action and implement strategies ever since the UK declared a climate emergency in 2019. Although accountancy sector emissions may not be as high as those from other industries, it is estimated in the UK that the sector is responsible for nearly 1% of annual business emissions. That’s about half-a-million tonnes of CO2e, equivalent to over 100,000 cars being driven for a year. There are over 280,000 accountants in Great Britain, advising over five million businesses and individuals. The influence and reach is enormous.

By understanding climate risk, accountants will be better able to advise and continue to support their clients in this continuously changing landscape. Some accountants already benefit from a Net Zero Accountancy Protocol, which was developed alongside the UK’s largest accountancy bodies, including ICAEW, ACCA, AAT and AIA.

Net Zero Now develops sector specific Net Zero Protocols to help businesses more easily navigate global guidelines such as the GHG Protocol and SBTi. In fact, one of the first Net Zero Protocols developed was for the accountancy sector as they believe that accountants can truly save the world.

To find out more look at www. netzeronow.org/accountants