An Agency Perspective on Voluntary CO2 Disclosure

Dr. Nils Niehues

doi:10.5771/9783845292212

Summary

This study aims to develop a better understanding of the challenges and prerequisites that should be taken into account when analysing carbon emission disclosures. Starting with an overview of the regulatory frameworks for carbon emissions, different reporting schemes and assurance standards, Nils Niehues provides some interesting insights into the shortcomings of previous studies in this field (e.g. studies about the business case for corporate social responsibility). The empirical analyses that follow shed some further light on the limited quality of recent carbon reports. The study evaluates the CDP’s (Carbon Disclosure Project) data set over the period 2010–2015 and combines the results with indications from several expert interviews. Therefore, the results of the study have different implications for regulators, standard setters, analysts and companies in terms of improving the quality of reporting in general and enhancing the ability of stakeholders to identify truly carbon efficient companies.

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Bibliographic data

Copyright year: 2018
ISBN-Print: 978-3-8487-5049-8
ISBN-Online: 978-3-8452-9221-2
Publisher: Nomos, Baden-Baden
Series: Nomos Universitätsschriften - Betriebswirtschaftslehre
Volume: 5
Language: English
Pages: 210
Product type: Book Titles

Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis No access Pages 1 - 18
1. Relevance of climate change No access
2. The business case for Corporate Social Responsibility No access
3. CO2 emission data as proxy for environmental performance No access
4. Research design - Exploratory sequential design No access
1. Corporate Social Responsibility disclosure No access
2. Climate disclosure initiatives No access
3. 1. General ways of regulation No access
  2. Emission trading systems and CO2 taxes No access
4. Audit standard for Greenhouse gas inventory No access
5. Relevant ratings for Carbon emissions used in research No access
1. Outcome from meta analytical studies No access
2. 1. Argumentation for and against the green measures No access
  2. Empirical evidence No access
  3. Critics on carbon accounting studies No access
3. Carbon disclosure as reporting element for green actions No access
4. 1. Stakeholder theory No access
  2. Legitimacy theory No access
  3. Institutional theory No access
  4. Agency theory No access
  5. Upper-echelon motivations No access
  6. Theoretical overview of disclosure strategies No access
5. 1. Complexity in counting CO2 emissions No access
  2. Measurement error No access
  3. Audit expectation gap No access
  4. Ensuring a complete carbon footprint No access
  5. Reporting Standard No access
  6. KPIs No access
6. 1. Process flow between principals and agents No access
  2. Disclosure as manipulative signal No access
  3. Research gaps in the agency model No access
1. Qualitative research questions No access
2. 1. Expert population No access
  2. Sampling strategy No access
  3. Sample description No access
3. Interview guideline No access
4. Evaluation of feedback and its limitations No access
5. Qualitative results No access
6. Interpretation of results with respect to mixed-method purpose statement and research gaps No access
1. 1. Purpose statement No access
  2. Main hypotheses No access
  3. Control hypotheses to proof mediator variables No access
  4. Embedding the hypotheses into the theoretical model No access
2. 1. Reporting companies sample No access
  2. Environmental performance No access
  3. Environmental disclosure No access
  4. Mediator and moderator variables No access
3. Descriptive statistics No access
4. Environmental performance and comparable disclosure No access
5. Positive CO2 disclosure and two-degree target No access
6. Environmental performance and voluntary audit services No access
7. 1. Stakeholder salience No access
  2. Company size No access
  3. Sector No access
1. 1. Indicators for green-washing No access
  2. Environmental disclosure as measure for green performance No access
  3. Compliance to the two-degree target No access
  4. Assurance coverage as measure for green disclosure No access
  5. Confirmation of control variables No access
  6. Agency theory as argumentation for CO2 disclosure No access
2. Limitations No access
3. Future research prospects No access
Bibliography No access Pages 177 - 200
Appendix No access Pages 201 - 210