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Limited progress in sustainable development: Factors influencing the environmental management and reporting of South African JSE‐listed companies

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  • Claudia Kitsikopoulos
  • Ute Schwaibold
  • Douglas Taylor

Abstract

Although public, governmental, international and stakeholder pressure have led to corporations conforming to better sustainability performance, there has been an insignificant reduction in environmental degradation levels, and progress in sustainable development is limited. This study examines which factors influencing environmental management and reporting in South Africa could potentially contribute to this limited progress. The study was based on a series of interviews with sustainability managers of JSE‐listed firms. Results suggest that stock exchange listing requirements, internal processes and structures, experienced staff and the sustainability committee positively influence environmental and overall corporate sustainability, yet that resource and time constraints, as well as reporting fatigue, potentially limit the advancement of sustainable development. This restricts the further reduction of environmental degradation, which is urgently necessary in light of the harmful impacts that for example climate change has on the environment, societies and economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Claudia Kitsikopoulos & Ute Schwaibold & Douglas Taylor, 2018. "Limited progress in sustainable development: Factors influencing the environmental management and reporting of South African JSE‐listed companies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(8), pages 1295-1301, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:27:y:2018:i:8:p:1295-1301
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.2176
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    7. Ge Wang & Huijin Zhang & Saixing Zeng & Xiaohua Meng & Han Lin, 2023. "Reporting on sustainable development: Configurational effects of top management team and corporate characteristics on environmental information disclosure," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(1), pages 28-52, January.
    8. Varaidzo Denhere, 2022. "Sustainability: The adoption of green economy and sustainable accounting principles by South African listed companies and lessons learnt," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 11(5), pages 366-376, July.
    9. Ayman Hassan Bazhair & Saleh F. A. Khatib & Hamzeh Al Amosh, 2022. "Taking Stock of Carbon Disclosure Research While Looking to the Future: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-24, October.
    10. Monday Nweke Igwe & Saleh F. A. Khatib & Ayman Hassan Bazhair, 2023. "Sustainability reporting in Africa: A systematic review and agenda for future research," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(5), pages 2081-2100, September.
    11. Sha, Yezhou & Zhang, Ping & Wang, Yiru & Xu, Yifan, 2022. "Capital market opening and green innovation——Evidence from Shanghai-Hong Kong stock connect and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong stock connect," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    12. Yao, Shouyu & Pan, Yuying & Sensoy, Ahmet & Uddin, Gazi Salah & Cheng, Feiyang, 2021. "Green credit policy and firm performance: What we learn from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    13. Shi Chen & Fu-Wei Huang & Jyh-Horng Lin, 2022. "Effects of Cap-and-Trade Mechanism and Financial Gray Rhino Threats on Insurer Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-20, July.

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