Accounting for Climate Change: CSR Mechanism or CSR Disclosure?

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Climate change is regarded by many as the most significant social and environmental challenge the Earth currently faces. The effects of climate change are well-documented and the number of critics of human-made climate change is reducing. For business, climate change is both a curse and a blessing. Many businesses are aware that their stakeholders are themselves forced to address climate change and therefore demanding action from business; others are using climate change as a competitive advantage or a means to enter new markets. This paper addresses the disclosure aspects of climate change – i.e. the ways in which businesses make themselves accountable for their behaviour with respect to climate change. The accountancy profession has been slow to develop mechanisms for accounting for climate change but are keen to see standards of accounting and reporting. Reports such as that complied by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (the ACCA) show the extent to which companies are voluntarily disclosing the facts on climate change. This paper analyses the trends in such reporting to assess whether it is meaningful and transparent and asks whether stakeholders are able to hold companies accountable for their climate change activities through the reporting mechanisms.

Stream: Technical, Political and Social Responses

Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

I have been a lecturer and researcher in the area of CSR for more than 10 years and have published in international journals. I have also examined the meaning of and participation in sustainable development and have been involved in practical projects where sustainability has been key. These projects have also contributed to my research work.