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An investigation of voluntary corporate greenhouse gas emissions reporting in a market governance system: Australian evidence

Michaela Rankin (Department of Accounting and Finance, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia)
Carolyn Windsor (School of Business, Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia)
Dina Wahyuni (School of Commerce, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia and Department of Accounting, University of Jember, Jember, Indonesia)

Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal

ISSN: 0951-3574

Article publication date: 25 October 2011

7114

Abstract

Purpose

Institutional governance theory is used to explain voluntary corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting in the context of a market governance system in the absence of climate change public policy. This paper seeks to hypothesise that GHG reporting is related to internal organisation systems, external privately promulgated guidance and EU ETS trading.

Design/methodology/approach

A two‐stage approach is used. The initial model examines whether firms' GHG disclosures are associated with internal organisation systems factors: environmental management systems (EMS), corporate governance quality and environmental management committees as well as external private guidance provided by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for 187 ASX 300 firms. EU ETS trading is also included. Determinants of the extent and credibility of GHG disclosure is examined in the second stage where an index constructed from the GHG reporting standard “ISO 14064‐1” items for a sub‐sample of 80 disclosing firms as the dependent variable.

Findings

Firms that voluntarily disclose GHGs have EMSs (uncertified and certified), higher corporate governance quality and publicly report to the CDP, tend to be large and in the energy and mining and industrial sectors. The credibility and extent of disclosures are related to the existence of a certified EMS, public reporting to the CDP, and use of the GRI. Firms that disclose more credible information are more likely to be large and in the energy and mining, industrial and services sectors.

Originality/value

The paper shows that some proactive but pragmatic Australian firms are disclosing their GHGs voluntarily for competitive advantage in the current market governance system in the absence of public policy.

Keywords

Citation

Rankin, M., Windsor, C. and Wahyuni, D. (2011), "An investigation of voluntary corporate greenhouse gas emissions reporting in a market governance system: Australian evidence", Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Vol. 24 No. 8, pp. 1037-1070. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513571111184751

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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