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Sustainability reporting and ESG performance in the utilities sector

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  • Imperiale, Francesca
  • Pizzi, Simone
  • Lippolis, Stella

Abstract

In the last few years, many policymakers started implementing stricter rules about sustainability reporting in their jurisdictions. However, this process has been characterized by criticisms related to the potential misalignments between Environmental, Social and Governance factors (ESG) performance and sustainability reporting quality. This evidence is particularly relevant for the utilities sector because of the existence of reputational risks associated with their activities. The paper aims to contribute to the debate through novel insights about the nonlinear relationship between sustainability reporting quality and ESG performance in the utilities sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Imperiale, Francesca & Pizzi, Simone & Lippolis, Stella, 2023. "Sustainability reporting and ESG performance in the utilities sector," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:juipol:v:80:y:2023:i:c:s0957178722001321
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2022.101468
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    Cited by:

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    3. Nicolo, Giuseppe & Zampone, Giovanni & Sannino, Giuseppe & Tiron-Tudor, Adriana, 2023. "Worldwide evidence of corporate governance influence on ESG disclosure in the utilities sector," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    4. Gabriella D’Amore & Maria Testa & Luigi Lepore, 2023. "How Is the Utilities Sector Contributing to Building a Sustainable Future? A Systematic Literature Review of Sustainability Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-19, December.
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