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Institutional investor influence on global climate change disclosure practices

Author

Listed:
  • Julie Cotter

    (Australian Centre for Sustainable Business and Development, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia)

  • Muftah M Najah

    (Australian Centre for Sustainable Business and Development, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia)

Abstract

Using a stakeholder engagement perspective, we investigate the collective influence of institutional investors on a comprehensive set of climate change disclosures for a global sample of large companies. The proposition tested in this paper is that the influence of these powerful stakeholders is positively associated with climate change disclosure via corporate communications channels. We find the extent and quality of climate change disclosures to be associated with three indicators of corporate responsiveness to institutional investor expectations about the disclosure of this information. These are completion and publication of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) questionnaire on CDP’s website, indications in corporate communications that CDP activities have influenced climate change disclosures, and the extent and quality of climate change information provided in CDP questionnaire responses.

Suggested Citation

  • Julie Cotter & Muftah M Najah, 2012. "Institutional investor influence on global climate change disclosure practices," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 37(2), pages 169-187, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ausman:v:37:y:2012:i:2:p:169-187
    DOI: 10.1177/0312896211423945
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    References listed on IDEAS

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