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Putting Carbon Markets into Practice: A Case Study of Financial Accounting in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Heather Lovell

    (School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Drummond Street, Edinburgh EH8 9XP, Scotland)

  • Jan Bebbington

    (University of St Andrews, The Gateway, North Haugh, St Andrews KY16 9RJ, Scotland)

  • Carlos Larrinaga

    (Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Universidad de Burgos, Plaza Infanta Elena, 09001 Burgos, Spain)

  • Thereza Raquel Sales de Aguiar

    (School of Management and Languages, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland)

Abstract

In this paper we explore how carbon markets have entered the world of financial accounting. The advent of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) in 2005 provided the opportunity for global climate change concerns to be translated from policy into something that could, and should, be recognised within financial accounting. That is, the EU ETS provided a mechanism whereby greenhouse gas emission allowances acquired a financial value, simultaneously creating an obligation (or liability) on certain European organisations when they emit greenhouse gases. Prima facie, this process created the need for financial accounts of companies covered by the EU ETS to reflect the new commodity of carbon. Disagreement amongst accountants about how to treat emission allowances has arisen, with the initial international accounting guidance issued in late 2004 subsequently being withdrawn, and not yet replaced. Taking this absence of guidance as a starting point, we undertake an empirical project (through a survey, consultation analysis, and interviews) to establish what financial reporting practices are being adopted by participants in the EU ETS, and the level of momentum for standardisation. We draw on sociological theories about accounting, measurement, and markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Heather Lovell & Jan Bebbington & Carlos Larrinaga & Thereza Raquel Sales de Aguiar, 2013. "Putting Carbon Markets into Practice: A Case Study of Financial Accounting in Europe," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 31(4), pages 741-757, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:31:y:2013:i:4:p:741-757
    DOI: 10.1068/c1275
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jarmila Zimmermannová, 2015. "Pilot Analysis of the Behaviour of Companies Within the 3rd Trading Period of the EU ETS in the Czech Republic," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 63(6), pages 2213-2220.
    2. Tae Hee Kim & Sun Hye Lee & Petros Vourvachis, 2023. "Accounting Standard-Setting for an Emission Trading Scheme: The Korean Case," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(4), pages 1003-1024, February.
    3. Yonca Ertimur & Jennifer Francis & Amanda Gonzales & Katherine Schipper, 2020. "Financial Reporting for Pollution Reduction Programs," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(12), pages 6015-6041, December.
    4. Linnenluecke, Martina K. & Smith, Tom & McKnight, Brent, 2016. "Environmental finance: A research agenda for interdisciplinary finance research," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 124-130.
    5. Thereza RS de Aguiar, 2018. "Turning accounting for emissions rights inside out as well as upside down," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 36(1), pages 139-159, February.
    6. Patricia Milanés Montero & Esteban Pérez Calderón & Ana Isabel Lourenço Dias, 2020. "Transparency of Financial Reporting on Greenhouse Gas Emission Allowances: The Influence of Regulation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-25, January.

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