The growing focus on sustainability and corporate responsibility has led to significant shifts in financial and non-financial reporting practices. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors are increasingly becoming integral to corporate decision-making, influencing investor behavior, regulatory frameworks, and stakeholder expectations. As organizations strive to integrate ESG considerations into their operations, accounting professionals face challenges in measuring, reporting, and auditing ESG data. This special issue explores the evolving landscape of ESG reporting, examining the role of accountants in facilitating transparent and accurate ESG disclosures, the challenges related to standardization and comparability of ESG data, and the emerging tools and technologies used to support ESG reporting. Additionally, it will investigate the impact of ESG reporting on corporate financial performance and investor decision-making, as well as the future of ESG standards and regulations.

Key Topics for Contributions:

1.The Role of Accounting in ESG Reporting: Examining the evolving responsibilities of accountants in the preparation and assurance of ESG reports, including the integration of ESG factors into traditional financial reporting frameworks.

2.Standardization and Regulation of ESG Reporting: A deep dive into global efforts to standardize ESG reporting, with a focus on emerging regulations such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the SEC’s proposed rules on climate risk disclosures in the U.S.

3.ESG Data Assurance and Audit Challenges: Addressing the need for reliable, verifiable ESG data, the challenges of auditing non-financial information, and the role of external auditors in ensuring the credibility of ESG disclosures.

4.Technological Advancements in ESG Reporting: Exploring the use of blockchain, artificial intelligence, and data analytics in improving the transparency, accuracy, and efficiency of ESG reporting.

5.Impact of ESG Reporting on Corporate Valuation and Investor Behavior: Analyzing how ESG disclosures influence investment decisions, company valuation, and market behavior, with a focus on long-term performance and risk management.

6.Integrated Reporting: The Future of Corporate Disclosure: Investigating the integration of financial and non-financial performance in corporate reports, and how integrated reporting can enhance the decision-making process for investors, regulators, and stakeholders.

7.Case Studies of Leading ESG Reporting Practices: Highlighting best practices from organizations that have successfully integrated ESG into their reporting and operations, including lessons learned and barriers overcome.

8.The Role of Management Accounting in ESG Strategy: Exploring how management accountants can contribute to the development of effective ESG strategies, risk management frameworks, and sustainability goals within organizations.

9.The Ethics of ESG Reporting: A critical examination of the ethical issues surrounding ESG disclosures, including greenwashing, accuracy of claims, and the potential for manipulation of ESG metrics for corporate gain.

10.Future Directions for ESG Reporting Research: Identifying gaps in current research and proposing new directions for scholars and practitioners to explore in the field of ESG accounting and reporting.

This special issue aims to provide a comprehensive examination of the intersection between accounting and sustainability, offering both theoretical and practical insights into the role of accounting in a rapidly changing business environment.

Environmental Reporting;Social Reporting;Governance Reporting;ESG Reporting;Accounting Practices;ESG Challenges;ESG Opportunities;Sustainability Reporting;Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR);Sustainable Accounting;Non-financial Reporting;ESG Metrics;Regulatory Compliance;ESG Integration;ESG Framework;Financial Accounting and ESG;