Mid Sweden University

In the evolving landscape of environmental management and sustainability, the role and impact of carbon accounting is critical. This research monograph entitled Carbon Accounting for Sustainability and Environmental Management provides a comprehensive exploration of this subject. The book aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice, offering readers in-depth insights into the intricate dynamics of carbon accounting and its implications for sustainable development. This book delves into empirical evidence on carbon accounting practices, exploring their influence on corporate and national environmental management and sustainability, using China as a case context. It draws from data and case studies to provide practical insights into the effectiveness of various carbon accounting approaches and their impact on environmental sustainability. It sheds light on how carbon accounting practices are integrated into corporate and national strategies for environmental management and sustainable development.

As the world increasingly focuses on sustainability and climate justice, this book sets the scene by establishing the significance of carbon accounting in today’s environmental management practices. It provides a comprehensive exploration of the subject, with a specific focus on the Chinese context and sheds light on how carbon accounting practices are being integrated into corporate and national strategies. While the book has a strong focus on empirical realities in China, its exploration of carbon accounting and environmental management holds international importance. The book bridges the gap between theory and practice, offering readers in-depth insights into the intricate dynamics of carbon accounting and its implications for sustainable development, drawing on data and case studies to provide practical insights into the effectiveness of various carbon accounting approaches and their impact on environmental sustainability. It focuses on the crucial role of the development of green accounting, its future growth, and its wider impact on climate change. Additionally, the book examines how accurate tracking and reporting of carbon emissions are integral to developing effective environmental strategies and evolving environmental policies. Accompanied by real-world case studies and actionable recommendations, this book is a valuable resource for anyone navigating the intricate landscape of carbon accounting and reporting, offering a road map to informed strategic decision-making and sustainable business practices. It will be particularly beneficial for professionals in environmental management, policy formulation, and corporate sustainability, as it translates complex carbon accounting concepts into tangible, practical strategies. 

In a rapidly evolving world where Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations are at the forefront of business and investment decisions, understanding the intricate interplay between ESG factors and corporate performance is paramount. This book demystifies ESG by providing empirical insights from the unique perspective of China, shedding light on the impact of ESG on financial performance and corporate governance. It investigates the impact of environmental expertise, social variability, and board governance model on firm performance.

The book sets the stage by introducing the reader to the significance of ESG in today's corporate world, examining empirical evidence gathered from a decade of data analysis on Chinese-listed companies. It explores how ESG practices influence corporate financial performance and what role audit quality plays in this equation. Drawing from a wealth of data, it provides practical insights into the effects of ESG disclosure, ownership structures, corporate governance, and more on the performance of businesses. It offers a clear understanding of the empirical realities in China while addressing a global audience interested in harnessing ESG for sustainable corporate success. It provides valuable lessons and comparisons that can benefit readers beyond China's borders.

The book bridges the gap between research and practice, translating complex research findings into actionable recommendations, enhancing its appeal to both academic and professional audiences. It is a must-read for scholars, students and researchers seeking actionable insights into the world of ESG. Further, it discusses ESG practice and policy implications, offering recommendations for stakeholders including policymakers, investors, managers, and auditors.

In the contemporary business landscape, the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors into corporate practices has become essential for achieving sustainable development and enhancing corporate accountability. This book delves into the evolving field of ESG accounting, emphasizing its impact on performance measurement, risk management, and corporate governance. By using empirical data from Chinese listed companies over a decade, it elucidates how ESG practices influence financial performance and the role of audit quality in this dynamic. The findings underscore the significance of high-quality ESG disclosures in fostering corporate transparency, enhancing stakeholder trust, and driving sustainable business practices. The distinct characteristics of the Chinese market, offering valuable insights into the global discourse on ESG integration, are highlighted. Through rigorous data analysis and comprehensive exploration of accounting frameworks, the book provides actionable recommendations for policymakers, investors, and corporate managers, advocating for robust ESG practices as a cornerstone of sustainable corporate success.

Financial advisors are professionals with a high level of financial knowledge and skills, but do they use their own working experience to achieve financial health? In fact, little is known whether financial advisors utilize their financial capability and adopt financial behavior, and how they ensure their own financial well-being and mitigate financial stress. Based on the capability approach and previous studies, an online questionnaire was developed and sent to a sample of financial advisors in the USA. We received 232 valid responses, and the results suggest that financial advisors' capability can address financial well-being and financial stress. However, their own financial behavior, per se, does not. To solve this dilemma, the study emphasizes the effect of regularly practicing lifelong learning and physical activity. Our study also offers insights that help institutions that organize the career requirements of financial advisors.

In the contemporary business landscape, the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors into corporate practices has become essential for achieving sustainable development and enhancing corporate accountability. This book delves into the evolving field of ESG accounting, emphasizing its impact on performance measurement, risk management, and corporate governance. By using empirical data from Chinese listed companies over a decade, it elucidates how ESG practices influence financial performance and the role of audit quality in this dynamic. The findings underscore the significance of high-quality ESG disclosures in fostering corporate transparency, enhancing stakeholder trust, and driving sustainable business practices. The distinct characteristics of the Chinese market, offering valuable insights into the global discourse on ESG integration, are highlighted. Through rigorous data analysis and comprehensive exploration of accounting frameworks, the book provides actionable recommendations for policymakers, investors, and corporate managers, advocating for robust ESG practices as a cornerstone of sustainable corporate success.

This chapter investigates the pivotal role of carbon accounting within the domains of management control, performance measurement, and climate risk management. As organizations worldwide face increasing pressures to enhance environmental stewardship, carbon accounting has emerged as a vital tool for quantifying and managing greenhouse gas emissions. This chapter elucidates the integration of carbon accounting into management control systems and performance measurement frameworks, highlighting its significance in fostering corporate transparency, accountability, and sustainability performance. The discussion emphasizes the necessity of a robust regulatory framework to standardize and institutionalize carbon accounting practices. The chapter also underscores the critical need for professional development to address the shortage of skilled practitioners in green accounting. By incorporating carbon metrics into performance measurement systems, organizations can align sustainability goals with strategic and operational objectives, thus achieving a comprehensive view of their performance. Empirical evidence presented in this chapter demonstrates the positive correlation between robust carbon accounting practices and improved environmental and financial performance. The chapter further explores how integrating carbon accounting with climate risk management frameworks enhances organizational resilience to climate-related risks and positions companies to capitalize on opportunities arising from the transition to a low-carbon economy. Moreover, the chapter highlights the potential of technological advancements such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things to enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and transparency of carbon accounting practices. The insights provided offer valuable guidance for academics, practitioners, and policymakers committed to advancing sustainable development and environmental stewardship. 

The emphasis on digitalization has significantly affected public sector organizations, including municipalities, as they strive to improve operational efficiency, transparency, and public value. Nevertheless, historical examples reveal high failure rates in digitalization projects, often resulting in delays, financial losses, and political repercussions. These failures underscore the importance of conducting value for money (VFM) audits to ensure digitalization projects are accountable and beneficial to the taxpaying citizens. This study critically examines the work of professional auditors in VFM audits related to digitalization projects within Swedish municipalities during the 2016–2023 period. The findings suggest that these audits primarily address organizational aspects, rather than improved economy, efficiency, and effectiveness. In this context, VFM audits appear to function as standardized and time-efficient procedures aimed at providing comfort to various stakeholders, without assessing the actual efficiency gains from digitalization initiatives. A possible reason for this is that the auditors seek to make digitalization initiatives auditable, given the acknowledged challenges of evaluating such projects. Future research is therefore encouraged to further explore this pattern in VFM audits of digitalization projects, ideally incorporating the perspectives of different actors. 

Designing courses that support collaboration and individual development is a crucial feature of higher education lifelong learning. This chapter reports a model for course design developed in a project with participants from banks, insurance companies, and one governmental insurance agency. The model aims to go beyond individual competencies by focusing also on organizational development with collaborative features inspired by the Community of Inquiry theoretical framework. Based on the network mode, the course design emphasizes collaborative inquiries between participants that link theoretical ideas to authentic organizational problems. Of particular interest is that the model helps lifelong learners to focus on personal meaning and collaborative application of acquired knowledge for the benefit of their organizations.