scholarly journals Integrated reporting and environmental disclosure: Is natural capital neglected?

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-139
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Gelmini ◽  
Paola Vola
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Business Organizations ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Environmental Disclosure ◽  
Academic Discussion ◽  
Environment Preservation

We have entered a new geologic era, the Anthropocene, also defined as the Age of Humans, in which humans are doubtless responsible for ensuring sustainable development. Further research is required to assess actions carried out by business organizations with reference to environment preservation. Our paper contributes to the academic discussion on the role of integrated reporting with a focus on natural capital. We propose to investigate whether and how companies report about natural capital in their integrated reports (IR), in the domain of South Africa. In our study, we investigate the type of information and its positioning in the IR and, notably, in the business model (BM). Our paper provides many contributions to literature. First, it exposes the extent and type of information that can be provided on natural capital through IR. Moreover, the paper contributes to the debate about the efficacy of IR to really enhance sustainability practises

TRANSFORMATION OF THE INTERNAL AUDIT IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO INCREASE THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF A BUSINESS ENTITY

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-119
Author(s):  
PHAN THI THANH QUYEN ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Corporate Governance Structure ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Internal Auditors

The role of internal audit in ensuring sustainable development of economic entities is indisputable. How-ever, the biggest challenge faced by internal auditors is how the level of their contribution can truly be weighed against the ability and role recognized by society, especially as most economic actors move from a traditional business model to a sustainable business model. The article highlights the main approaches to the transfor-mation of internal audit in order to make it an integral part of the corporate governance structure and make a significant contribution to sustainable development.

scholarly journals Independent board of directors and corporate sustainability: A South African and Nigerian perspective

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-68
Author(s):  
Collins Ngwakwe ◽  
Fortune Ganda ◽  
Oladele John Akinyomi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
South African ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Independent Directors ◽  
Environmental Reporting ◽  
Sustainability Disclosure

This paper examined the stance of independent directors on corporate sustainable development initiative in South Africa and Nigeria. This has become apposite considering the role of independent directors in corporate strategic decisions and performance. It is believed that independent boards strive to direct corporate decisions to protect the investors and thus improve financial performance. Given that sustainability initiative is currently occupying a vital strategic position in protecting firms against inherent and imminent climate change and financial risks, the paper undertakes a survey of South African and Nigerian companies to ascertain the role of independent directors on corporate sustainable development initiatives. Using a mix method of primary and secondary data analysis, the paper finds that independent boards in both countries of study understand the importance of sustainability; however a pragmatic stance on sustainability is more visible in South Africa where independent boards are members of and/or participate in nominating corporate sustainability committees. The paper suggests the need for improved detailed disclosure on sustainability in the Nigerian corporate annual reports; the Nigerian Stock Exchange may boost this initiative by establishing a social and environmental reporting index supported by an annual survey of company sustainability disclosure. It also suggests the need to include sustainability awareness and interest in the metrics that are used in the appointment of independent boards in Nigerian companies

scholarly journals Normative Environmental Configuration of SMEs within the Sustainable Development Discourse in South Africa: An Empirical Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (23) ◽  
pp. 6537
Author(s):  
Reginald Masocha
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Development Discourse ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Research Survey ◽  
Equation Modelling ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Social Environmental

This paper investigates the role of normative environmental configuration forces on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adopting sustainable development practices in South Africa. A research survey was performed, and data were gathered from SMEs utilizing owners and managers as respondents. Non-probability sampling at the hand of the convenience method was utilised and 220 respondents constituted the final sample. The analysis of data constituted factor analysis and hypotheses were tested through the structural equation modelling technique. The study hypothesised that normative forces have an impact on the participation of SMEs in the extents of sustainability practices, namely social, environmental and economic. The results led to the supporting of all the hypotheses postulated in the study. Thus, the major recommendation was to support the training, networking and professional affiliations of SMEs in sustainable development issues in order to ensure proliferation of sustainable development amongst these firms.

scholarly journals Learning from the Best: New Challenges and Trends in IR Reporters’ Disclosure and the Role of SDGs

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 5545
Author(s):  
Maria Federica Izzo ◽  
Alberto Dello Strologo ◽  
Fabrizio Granà
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Corporate Reporting ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Evaluation Scores ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
International Integrated Reporting Council ◽  
Stakeholder Needs

A worldwide debate on the effectiveness of business reporting information has engaged organizations, policy makers, regulators, and members of the capital market. The documents through which organizations disclose their annual performance are being questioned and criticized, as they appear inadequate for responding to stakeholder needs. In 2013, the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) launched a project with the aim of redesigning corporate reporting processes and outputs, introducing integrated reporting (IR). At the center of IR are the six capitals defined by the IIRC representing the basis for an innovative form of evaluating and presenting performance. New topics on the global sustainable development agenda are growing in importance, requiring companies to enrich their disclosure and connect business to environment. In this study, we examined how a group of leaders in IR, 134 European companies from the IIRC IR reporters list, are currently disclosing IR capital and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), developing three evaluation scores: Capital Disclosure Index, SDG Disclosure Index, and SDG Compliance Index.

Community Engagement

2020 ◽  
pp. 261-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tshimangadzo Selina Mudau
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Urban Communities ◽  
South African ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Rural And Urban

The chapter presents the use of community engagement as a tool to facilitate rural development in (South) Africa. In its discussion, the researcher used desktop literature review to analyze, compare, and gain insights guiding the use of community engagement to enhance social transformation and sustainable development. The discussion is advanced from the historical background of the emergence of African universities and community engagement. The focus was reflected against the backdrop of the Western approach used among various global universities. In this view, the underpinning objectives, relationship with the researched, and the role of the researching university are detailed. Practical evidence of positive collaborative results within the (South) African communities within the rural and urban communities by universities and other organizations have also been provided. A contrast of various types of community engagement is also provided.

Achieving Sustainable Development Goals: The Role of the Accountancy Profession in Malta

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-116
Author(s):  
Dorianne Tabone Saliba
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Business Organizations ◽  
Global Challenge ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Un General Assembly ◽  
Chartered Accountants

Various initiatives have been undertaken to promote a global sustainable development agenda, with the most recent one being the United Nations (UN)’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In 2015, the UN General Assembly set 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets to be achieved by its 193 member states (including Malta) by 2030. These SDGs position sustainable development as a global challenge which needs to be tackled by various stakeholders including governments and non-governmental and business organizations. Professional accountancy bodies, such as the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA), acknowledge that the profession plays an important role in the achievement of SDGs. Despite these claims, there is limited research that investigates the role that the profession plays in furthering the achievement of SDGs. In view of this context, this research explores how the accountancy profession in Malta is contributing to furthering the achievement of eight specific SDGs, with a view to making recommendations as to what further initiatives can be implemented by the profession to further contribute to the achievement of these SDGs by Malta. A grounded theory methodology has been adopted, so that theory could be generated from the data collected through the qualitative interviews which were carried out with four professionals. Results show that Maltese accountancy professionals are engaging in several initiatives that contribute towards the achievement of SDGs, even though they face a number of barriers. A theoretical model, grounded in the data generated, has emerged with three approaches which accountancy professionals are adopting when contributing towards the achievement of the UN’s SDGs, namely the conservative, visionary, and adaptive approaches. The study also recommends new initiatives that accountancy professionals could possibly introduce to further contribute to achieving SDGs.

scholarly journals The Role of Good Environmental Governance in the Sustainable Development of South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Loretta Feris
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Environmental Decisions ◽  
Value Choices

This article seeks to analyse good governance decision-making in the environmental context through an understanding and interpretation of the relationship between good environmental governance (evidenced inter alia by decision-making by public authorities) and sustainable development in South Africa.  It critically assesses recent case law in an attempt to understand the way in which our courts are evaluating authorities’ environmental decisions.  In reaching its objectives, this article considers also how environmental decisions are made in the first place and asks the question: what are the value choices underlying government’s decisions and what role does sustainable development play in informing decisions for good environmental governance.

scholarly journals Role of courts in interpreting local government's environmental powers in South Africa

2016 ◽  
pp. 17-35
Author(s):  
Oliver Fuo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Case Law ◽  
Environmental Rights ◽  
Environmental Objectives ◽  
Fundamental Transformation ◽  
The Republic

Local government in post-apartheid South Africa has undergone fundamental transformation. This is evident from its extensive governing powers and functions and its expanded developmental mandate. At the forefront of sustainable development, municipalities have legislative and executive powers to administer the matters listed in Schedules 4B and 5B of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Moreover, matters listed in Schedules 4A and 5A of the Constitution can be assigned to municipalities by national and provincial governments. Like other spheres of government, municipalities are obliged to contribute towards realising s 24 of the Constitution – guaranteeing environmental rights. However, the exact contours of their powers in promoting the objectives of s 24 of the Constitution are ill-defined and subject to ongoing definition by way of legislation, policies and case-law. This article argues that environmental litigation presents courts an opportunity to further redefine the powers of municipalities in fostering constitutional environmental objectives in South Africa. Drawing from Le Sueur and Another v eThekwini Municipality and Others [2013] ZAKZPHC 6 (30 January 2013), this article demonstrates how courts can play an important role in clarifying the environmental powers and functions of municipalities in South Africa. This article is based on a review of legal and extra-legal sources.

scholarly journals Achieving Sustainable Development through Environment Accounting from the Global Perspective: Evidence from Bangladesh

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-61
Author(s):  
Tapos Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Standard Method ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
Environmental Reporting ◽  
Environmental Disclosure

The study visualizes the link between environment accounting & triple bottom line, quantitative environmental reporting & standard method, voluntary environmental disclosure & legal requirement, size of company & volume of environmental disclosure, material flow analysis & life cycle assessment to achieve sustainable development in Bangladeshi corporation. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to investigate the role of these factors to achieve sustainable development in Bangladeshi corporation. To investigate the role of these factors, ten factors that significantly contribute to achieve sustainable development were determined. A set of closed-minded questionnaire was developed on the basis of these factors to collect the data from employees & employers. Questionnaire was administered by using statistical tools such as matrix, cross tabulation & Paired Samples Tests as a data collection tool and analyses. Research finding shows that sustainability of corporation was associated with the performance of economic, social, and environment. Other factors like quantitative environmental reporting, standard method, voluntary environmental disclosure, legal requirement, size of the company, volume of environmental disclosure, material flow analysis & life cycle assessment were found that they worked as a complement to enhance the performance of economic, social, and environment to achieve sustainable development in Bangladeshi corporation.

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