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Climate change mitigation: Carbon assurance and reporting integrity

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  • Binh Bui
  • Muhammad Nurul Houqe
  • Mahbub Zaman

Abstract

Concern about climate change has increased the pressure on firms to be accountable for social impact and to report on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. Focusing on the view that sustainability‐oriented firms are likely to consider wider stakeholder interests and pursue high financial reporting integrity, this paper examines the association between carbon assurance and earnings management. Using a sample of firms listed on the New York Stock Exchange, we find voluntary adoption of carbon assurance (level), carbon disclosure and gender diverse boards are negatively associated with earnings management. Additional tests using different components of carbon assurance (percent and verification) confirm our main results. Our results suggest that firms that voluntarily invest in carbon assurance, carbon disclosure and gender diverse boards are less likely to engage in earnings management and thus have higher reporting integrity. This aligns with the view that firms' ethical concerns translate into higher quality reporting.

Suggested Citation

  • Binh Bui & Muhammad Nurul Houqe & Mahbub Zaman, 2021. "Climate change mitigation: Carbon assurance and reporting integrity," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(8), pages 3839-3853, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:30:y:2021:i:8:p:3839-3853
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.2843
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    3. Ayman Issa & Jalal Rajeh Hanaysha, 2023. "Achieving sustainable business: The nexus between external sustainability assurance, CSR strategy and emission reduction," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(6), pages 3095-3109, November.
    4. Elbardan, Hany & Uyar, Ali & Kuzey, Cemil & Karaman, Abdullah S., 2023. "CSR reporting, assurance, and firm value and risk: The moderating effects of CSR committees and executive compensation," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
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    6. Jing Lu & Kathleen Rodenburg & Lianne Foti & Ann Pegoraro, 2022. "Are firms with better sustainability performance more resilient during crises?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 3354-3370, November.
    7. Le Luo & Qingliang Tang & Hanlu Fan & Jamie Ayers, 2023. "Corporate carbon assurance and the quality of carbon disclosure," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(1), pages 657-690, March.
    8. Habib Zaman Khan & Muhammad Nurul Houqe & Ielemia K Ielemia, 2023. "Organic versus cosmetic efforts of the quality of carbon reporting by top New Zealand firms. Does market reward or penalise?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 686-703, January.
    9. Maslinawati Mohamad & Noor Raida Abd Rahman & Hairul Suhaimi Nahar & Coky Fauzi Alfi, 2023. "What Can We Glean from the Past Seven Decades of Voluntary Carbon Emissions Disclosure Research?," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 13(5), pages 83-97, September.
    10. Fahad Khalid & Juncheng Sun & Jiawei Guo & Mohit Srivastava, 2024. "Green corporate image: Assessing the effects of climate change management practices on corporate reputation," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 1786-1801, May.
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