IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i11p6526-d824923.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

In the Pursuit of Environmental Sustainability: The Role of Environmental Accounting

Author

Listed:
  • Muhammad Faisal Majid

    (Department of Management Sciences, Faculty of Business Administration, Mohammad Ali Jinnah University, Karachi 75400, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Meraj

    (Department of Economics, Faculty of Social & Basic Sciences, Mohammad Ali Jinnah University, Karachi 75400, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Shujaat Mubarik

    (College of Business Management, Institute of Business Management, Karachi 75190, Pakistan)

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the mediating role of sustainability in the relationship between environmental-accounting (EA) disclosures and audit quality (AQ) and firm performance (FP) by using GDP and firm size as the controlled variables. Data were collected from the annual and sustainability reports of 80 manufacturing firms that were listed on the PSX during the last 10 years (2011–2020). STATA 13 software and a multiple-regression model were used. The findings that were deduced from the empirical results indicate that EA with sustainability has a significant negative effect on both proxies of the FP (ROA and ROE). By contrast, AQ with sustainability has an insignificant negative impact on firm performance. This research contributes to the scarce literature and compares the level of EA with sustainability reporting and its impact on the FP with the controlled variables GDP and firm size. This study also contributes to the execution of the reporting and the assurance of sustainability, and it helps regulatory bodies with the integral development of reporting and the assurance of EA.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Faisal Majid & Muhammad Meraj & Muhammad Shujaat Mubarik, 2022. "In the Pursuit of Environmental Sustainability: The Role of Environmental Accounting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-20, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:11:p:6526-:d:824923
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/11/6526/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/11/6526/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Martin Freedman & Dennis M Patten, 2004. "Evidence on the pernicious effect of financial report environmental disclosure," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(1), pages 27-41, March.
    2. Dierkes, Meinolf & Preston, Lee E., 1977. "Corporate social accounting reporting for the physical environment: A critical review and implementation proposal," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 2(1), pages 3-22, January.
    3. Jennifer Clapp, 2005. "Global Environmental Governance for Corporate Responsibility and Accountability," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 5(3), pages 23-34, August.
    4. Carroll, Archie B., 1991. "The pyramid of corporate social responsibility: Toward the moral management of organizational stakeholders," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 39-48.
    5. Bosetti, Valentina & Frankel, Jeffrey, 2009. "Global Climate Policy Architecture and Political Feasibility: Specific Formulas and Emission Targets to Attain 460 ppm CO2 Concentrations," Sustainable Development Papers 55291, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    6. Rachel N. Birkey & Giovanna Michelon & Dennis M. Patten & Jomo Sankara, 2016. "Does assurance on CSR reporting enhance environmental reputation? An examination in the U.S. context," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(3), pages 143-152, September.
    7. Guerreiro, Marta Silva & Rodrigues, Lúcia Lima & Craig, Russell, 2012. "Voluntary adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards by large unlisted companies in Portugal – Institutional logics and strategic responses," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 37(7), pages 482-499.
    8. Neu, D. & Warsame, H. & Pedwell, K., 1998. "Managing public impressions: environmental disclosures in annual reports," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 23(3), pages 265-282, April.
    9. Teoh, Hai-Yap & Thong, Gregory, 1984. "Another look at corporate social responsibility and reporting: An empirical study in a developing country," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 189-206, June.
    10. Dillard, Jesse & Layzell, David, 2014. "An ongoing journey of corporate social responsibility," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 212-226.
    11. Hong Yuh Ching & Fábio Gerab & Thiago Henrique Toste, 2017. "The Quality of Sustainability Reports and Corporate Financial Performance: Evidence From Brazilian Listed Companies," SAGE Open, , vol. 7(2), pages 21582440177, June.
    12. Bassam Maali & Peter Casson & Christopher Napier, 2006. "Social reporting by islamic banks," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 42(2), pages 266-289, June.
    13. Balsalobre, Daniel & Sinha, Avik & Driha, Oana M. & Shujaat Mubarik, Muhammad, 2021. "Assessing the Impacts of Ageing and Natural Resource Extraction on Carbon Emissions: A proposed Policy Framework for European Economies," MPRA Paper 108159, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2021.
    14. Sikka, Prem, 2010. "Smoke and mirrors: Corporate social responsibility and tax avoidance," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 153-168.
    15. Shujaat Mubarik & Navaz Naghavi & Muhammad Faraz Mubarik, 2019. "Governance-Led Intellectual Capital Disclosure: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan," Humanities and Social Sciences Letters, Conscientia Beam, vol. 7(3), pages 141-155.
    16. Charles Ezeagba, 2017. "Financial Reporting in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. Challenges and Options," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 7(1), pages 1-10, January.
    17. Jesse Dillard & David Layzell, 2014. "An ongoing journey of corporate social responsibility," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(3), pages 212-226, September.
    18. Waris Ali & Jedrzej George Frynas & Zeeshan Mahmood, 2017. "Determinants of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Disclosure in Developed and Developing Countries: A Literature Review," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(4), pages 273-294, July.
    19. Arifur Khan & Mohammad Muttakin & Javed Siddiqui, 2013. "Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosures: Evidence from an Emerging Economy," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 114(2), pages 207-223, May.
    20. Sarah Lauwo & Olatunde Julius Otusanya, 2014. "Corporate accountability and human rights disclosures: A case study of Barrick Gold Mine in Tanzania," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(2), pages 91-108, June.
    21. Danny Z. X. Huang, 2021. "Environmental, social and governance (ESG) activity and firm performance: a review and consolidation," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(1), pages 335-360, March.
    22. Rodrigo Lozano, 2020. "Analysing the use of tools, initiatives, and approaches to promote sustainability in corporations," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(2), pages 982-998, March.
    23. Aza Ibrahim Eyigege, 2018. "Influence of Firm Size on Financial Performance of Deposit Money Banks Quoted on the Nigeria Stock Exchange," International Journal of Economics and Financial Research, Academic Research Publishing Group, vol. 4(9), pages 297-302, 09-2018.
    24. Pawan Adhikari & Chamara Kuruppu & Sumohon Matilal, 2013. "Dissemination and institutionalization of public sector accounting reforms in less developed countries: A comparative study of the Nepalese and Sri Lankan central governments," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(3), pages 213-230, September.
    25. Adhikari, Pawan & Kuruppu, Chamara & Matilal, Sumohon, 2013. "Dissemination and institutionalization of public sector accounting reforms in less developed countries: A comparative study of the Nepalese and Sri Lankan central governments," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 213-230.
    26. Tristan AUVRAY (LEREPS-GRES) & Gabriel COLLETIS (coord.) - (LEREPS-GRES) & Stéphanie LAVIGNE (ESC Toulouse - LEREPS-GRES) & Matthieu MONTALBAN (GREThA-GRES) & François MORIN (LEREPS-GRES) & Geoffroy R, 2007. "Financialisation of strategies, risk transfer, liquidity, property and control (In French)," Cahiers du GRES (2002-2009) 2007-09, Groupement de Recherches Economiques et Sociales.
    27. Erlend Kvaal & Christopher Nobes, 2010. "International differences in IFRS policy choice: A research note," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(2), pages 173-187.
    28. Roberts, Robin W., 1992. "Determinants of corporate social responsibility disclosure: An application of stakeholder theory," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 17(6), pages 595-612, August.
    29. Tzu-Kuan Chiu & Yi-Hsin Wang, 2015. "Determinants of Social Disclosure Quality in Taiwan: An Application of Stakeholder Theory," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 129(2), pages 379-398, June.
    30. Robert W. Holthausen, 2009. "Accounting Standards, Financial Reporting Outcomes, and Enforcement," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(2), pages 447-458, May.
    31. Diogenis Baboukardos & Musa Mangena & Abdullahi Ishola, 2021. "Integrated thinking and sustainability reporting assurance: International evidence," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 1580-1597, May.
    32. Abbasi, Kashif & Jiao, Zhilun & Khan, Arman & Shahbaz, Muhammad, 2020. "Asymmetric impact of renewable and non-renewable energy on economic growth in Pakistan: New evidence from a nonlinear analysis," MPRA Paper 101854, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 13 Jul 2020.
    33. Jan Corfee-Morlot & Lamia Kamal-Chaoui & Michael G. Donovan & Ian Cochran & Alexis Robert & Pierre-Jonathan Teasdale, 2009. "Cities, Climate Change and Multilevel Governance," OECD Environment Working Papers 14, OECD Publishing.
    34. Prem Sikka, 2010. "Smoke and mirrors: Corporate social responsibility and tax avoidance," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(3-4), pages 153-168, September.
    35. Isaac Monday Ikpor & Enrico Bracci & Clementina Iruka Kanu & Riccardo Ievoli & Benedette Okezie & Sunday Mlanga & Charles Ogbaekirigwe, 2022. "Drivers of Sustainability Accounting and Reporting in Emerging Economies: Evidence from Nigeria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-19, March.
    36. Max Baker & Stefan Schaltegger, 2015. "Pragmatism and new directions in social and environmental accountability research," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 28(2), pages 263-294, February.
    37. Aminu Hassan & Reza Kouhy, 2013. "Gas flaring in Nigeria: Analysis of changes in its consequent carbon emission and reporting," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(2), pages 124-134, June.
    38. Sikka, Prem, 2011. "Accounting for human rights: The challenge of globalization and foreign investment agreements," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 22(8), pages 811-827.
    39. Michael John Jones & Jill Frances Solomon, 2010. "Social and environmental report assurance: Some interview evidence," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(1), pages 20-31, March.
    40. Breeda Comyns, 2016. "Determinants of GHG Reporting: An Analysis of Global Oil and Gas Companies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(2), pages 349-369, June.
    41. Jones, Michael John & Solomon, Jill Frances, 2010. "Social and environmental report assurance: Some interview evidence," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 20-31.
    42. Sikka, Prem, 2013. "Smoke and mirrors: Corporate social responsibility and tax avoidance—A reply to Hasseldine and Morris," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 15-28.
    43. Henry D. Jacoby & Ian Sue Wing, 1999. "Adjustment Time, Capital Malleability and Policy Cost," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Special I), pages 73-92.
    44. Prem Sikka, 2013. "Smoke and mirrors: Corporate social responsibility and tax avoidance—A reply to Hasseldine and Morris," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(1), pages 15-28, March.
    45. Sung C. Bae & Kiyoung Chang & Ha-Chin Yi, 2018. "Corporate social responsibility, credit rating, and private debt contracting: new evidence from syndicated loan market," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 50(1), pages 261-299, January.
    46. Deegan, Craig & Blomquist, Christopher, 2006. "Stakeholder influence on corporate reporting: An exploration of the interaction between WWF-Australia and the Australian minerals industry," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 31(4-5), pages 343-372.
    47. O'Dwyer, Brendan & Owen, David L., 2005. "Assurance statement practice in environmental, social and sustainability reporting: a critical evaluation," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 205-229.
    48. Marcus, Matityahu, 1969. "Profitability and Size of Firm: Some Further Evidence," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 51(1), pages 104-107, February.
    49. Prem Lal Joshi & Mishiel Said Suwaidan & Rajesh Kumar, 2011. "Determinants of environmental disclosures by Indian industrial listed companies: empirical study," International Journal of Accounting and Finance, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 3(2), pages 109-130.
    50. Gray, Rob, 2010. "Is accounting for sustainability actually accounting for sustainability...and how would we know? An exploration of narratives of organisations and the planet," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 47-62, January.
    51. Freedman, Martin & Jaggi, Bikki, 1982. "Pollution disclosures, pollution performance and economic performance," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 10(2), pages 167-176.
    52. Belal, Ataur Rahman & Cooper, Stuart M. & Khan, Niaz Ahmed, 2015. "Corporate environmental responsibility and accountability: What chance in vulnerable Bangladesh?," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 44-58.
    53. Alan Murray & Donald Sinclair & David Power & Rob Gray, 2006. "Do financial markets care about social and environmental disclosure?: Further evidence and exploration from the UK," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 19(2), pages 228-255, February.
    54. Christina Chiang, 2010. "Insights into current practices in auditing environmental matters," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 25(9), pages 912-933, October.
    55. Hassan, Aminu & Kouhy, Reza, 2013. "Gas flaring in Nigeria: Analysis of changes in its consequent carbon emission and reporting," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 124-134.
    56. Yousuf Kamal & Craig Deegan, 2013. "Corporate Social and Environment-related Governance Disclosure Practices in the Textile and Garment Industry: Evidence from a Developing Country," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 23(2), pages 117-134, June.
    57. Glen Dowell & Stuart Hart & Bernard Yeung, 2000. "Do Corporate Global Environmental Standards Create or Destroy Market Value?," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 46(8), pages 1059-1074, August.
    58. Dong Tian & Fengtao Zhao & Weisong Mu & Radoslava Kanianska & Jianying Feng, 2016. "Environmental Efficiency of Chinese Open-Field Grape Production: An Evaluation Using Data Envelopment Analysis and Spatial Autocorrelation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-13, November.
    59. Lauwo, Sarah & Otusanya, Olatunde Julius, 2014. "Corporate accountability and human rights disclosures: A case study of Barrick Gold Mine in Tanzania," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 91-108.
    60. Christian M. Faller & Dodo zu Knyphausen-Aufseß, 2018. "Does Equity Ownership Matter for Corporate Social Responsibility? A Literature Review of Theories and Recent Empirical Findings," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(1), pages 15-40, June.
    61. Bhattarai, Basundhara & Beilin, Ruth & Ford, Rebecca, 2015. "Gender, Agrobiodiversity, and Climate Change: A Study of Adaptation Practices in the Nepal Himalayas," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 122-132.
    62. Jonas Oliveira & Lúcia Lima Rodrigues & Russell Craig, 2011. "Risk-related disclosures by non-finance companies: Portuguese practices and disclosure characteristics," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 26(9), pages 817-839, October.
    63. Freeman, R. Edward & Liedtka, Jeanne, 1991. "Corporate social responsibility: A critical approach," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 92-98.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jane Andrew & Max Baker, 2020. "Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting: The Last 40 Years and a Path to Sharing Future Insights," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 56(1), pages 35-65, March.
    2. Margarida Rodrigues & Maria do Céu Alves & Cidália Oliveira & Vera Vale & José Vale & Rui Silva, 2021. "Dissemination of Social Accounting Information: A Bibliometric Review," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-25, March.
    3. Walaa Wahid ElKelish*, 2023. "Accounting for Corporate Human Rights: Literature Review and Future Insights," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 33(2), pages 203-226, June.
    4. Waris Ali & Jedrzej George Frynas, 2018. "The Role of Normative CSR‐Promoting Institutions in Stimulating CSR Disclosures in Developing Countries," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(4), pages 373-390, July.
    5. Md. Abdul Kaium Masud & Mohammad Nurunnabi & Seong Mi Bae, 2018. "The effects of corporate governance on environmental sustainability reporting: empirical evidence from South Asian countries," Asian Journal of Sustainability and Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 1-26, December.
    6. Moazzem Hossain & Angela Hecimovic & Aklema Choudhury Lema, 2015. "Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility Reporting Practices from an Emerging Mobile Telecommunications Market," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 25(4), pages 389-404, December.
    7. Orhan Akisik & Graham Gal, 2014. "Financial performance and reviews of corporate social responsibility reports," Mathematical Methods of Operations Research, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research (GOR);Nederlands Genootschap voor Besliskunde (NGB), vol. 25(3), pages 259-288, December.
    8. Mohammad Badrul Haider & Kimitaka Nishitani, 2020. "Views of corporate managers on assurance of sustainability reporting: evidence from Japan," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 17(1), pages 1-19, March.
    9. Fallan, Even & Fallan, Lars, 2019. "Corporate tax behaviour and environmental disclosure: Strategic trade-offs across elements of CSR?," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 35(3).
    10. Minga Negash & Tesfaye T. Lemma, 2020. "Institutional pressures and the accounting and reporting of environmental liabilities," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5), pages 1941-1960, July.
    11. Olivier Boiral & Iñaki Heras-Saizarbitoria & Marie-Christine Brotherton, 2019. "Assessing and Improving the Quality of Sustainability Reports: The Auditors’ Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(3), pages 703-721, March.
    12. Hans B. Christensen & Luzi Hail & Christian Leuz, 2021. "Mandatory CSR and sustainability reporting: economic analysis and literature review," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 1176-1248, September.
    13. Mahoney, Lois S. & Thorne, Linda & Cecil, Lianna & LaGore, William, 2013. "A research note on standalone corporate social responsibility reports: Signaling or greenwashing?," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 24(4), pages 350-359.
    14. Zeeshan Mahmood & Rehana Kouser & Md. Abdul Kaium Masud, 2019. "An emerging economy perspective on corporate sustainability reporting – main actors’ views on the current state of affairs in Pakistan," Asian Journal of Sustainability and Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 1-31, December.
    15. Grueso Gala, Melanie & Camisón Zornoza, César, 2022. "A bibliometric analysis of the literature on non-financial information reporting: Review of the research and network visualization," Cuadernos de Gestión, Universidad del País Vasco - Instituto de Economía Aplicada a la Empresa (IEAE).
    16. Habiba Al‐Shaer & Mahbub Zaman, 2018. "Credibility of sustainability reports: The contribution of audit committees," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(7), pages 973-986, November.
    17. MuiChing Chan & John Watson & David Woodliff, 2014. "Corporate Governance Quality and CSR Disclosures," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 125(1), pages 59-73, November.
    18. Argilés-Bosch, Josep Mª & Ravenda, Diego & Garcia-Blandón, Josep, 2021. "E-commerce and labour tax avoidance," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    19. Giovanna Gavana & Pietro Gottardo & Anna Maria Moisello, 2016. "Sustainability Reporting in Family Firms: A Panel Data Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-18, December.
    20. Karaman, Abdullah S. & Orazalin, Nurlan & Uyar, Ali & Shahbaz, Muhammad, 2021. "CSR achievement, reporting, and assurance in the energy sector: Does economic development matter?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:11:p:6526-:d:824923. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.