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Sustainable development carbon pricing initiative and voluntary environmental disclosures quality

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  • Sohanur Rahman
  • Tehmina Khan
  • Pavithra Siriwardhane

Abstract

Although corporate environmental disclosures have been researched extensively, empirical evidence regarding the indirect impact of carbon pricing on firms' voluntary disclosures is scarce. The objective of this study is to identify the indirect impact of carbon pricing initiatives on the voluntary environmental disclosures (VEDs) of electricity generating companies, analyzed through the lens of institutional theory. This study adds to the growing literature on the determinants of VED, investigating the impact of adoption of the Global Reporting Initiative and ISO 14001 on VED. Secondary data were collected from 2015 annual reports and/or standalone sustainability reports of electricity generating companies from 53 countries around the world. Content analysis approach was adopted for measuring the extent of the quality of VED. Findings of multiple regression analysis suggest that there is an indirect institutional impact of carbon pricing on the quality of VED. This study also finds that, as the form of nongovernment guidance, the Global Reporting Initiative adoption and ISO 14001 certification also have an institutional influence on the VED. VED is also affected by company size although this study reveals no significant relationship of leverage with VED.

Suggested Citation

  • Sohanur Rahman & Tehmina Khan & Pavithra Siriwardhane, 2019. "Sustainable development carbon pricing initiative and voluntary environmental disclosures quality," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(6), pages 1072-1082, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:28:y:2019:i:6:p:1072-1082
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.2302
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    5. 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.
    6. Syeda Humayra Abedin & Silima Subha & Mumtaheena Anwar & Md. Nurul Kabir & Yasean A. Tahat & Mohammed Hossain, 2023. "Environmental Performance and Corporate Governance: Evidence from Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-20, February.
    7. Mumtaheena Anwar & Sohanur Rahman & Md. Nurul Kabir, 2021. "Does national carbon pricing policy affect voluntary environmental disclosures? A global evidence," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 23(2), pages 211-244, April.

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