Integrated Sustainability Framework for SDG Governance and Reporting

This report provides evidence on the factors affecting the uptake, management and disclosure of SDGs from a multi-stakeholder perspective. Our study draws on the lived experiences of 30 participants who have knowledge and governance expertise on sustainability across business, non-profit, accounting profession and management consultancy areas. In-depth participant interviews and two focal group discussions formed the basis for capturing the perceptions, attitudes and insights of expert governance stakeholders such as CEOs, corporate sustainability officers (CSOs), CFOs /management accountants, professional consultancy experts, and related knowledge experts on sustainability. Data analysis is guided by integrated management systems thinking as set out in the UN Global Compact Integrated Sustainability Roadmap (UNGC, 2015) where alignment across the strategic, operational and cultural dimensions within different functional units are seen as critical for effective corporate sustainability. The findings of this study highlight the importance of the role of information and knowledge management systems and the under-tapped capacity of accounting systems for SDG integration. A more holistic framework, titled, “Integrated Sustainability SDG Governance and Reporting Framework”, is proposed for guiding business support of the 2030 Agenda on sustainable development

Sustainable development goal reporting: Contrasting effects of institutional and organisational factors

Businesses are increasingly expected to disclose their progress towards sustainable development via engagement with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Although there is increasing trend towards disclosure, corporate reporting on Sustainable Development Goals varies in content and quality, posing a challenge to assess and improve the quality of disclosure. To understand variation in Sustainable Development Goal disclosure, it is essential to examine significant factors influencing corporate reporting. Accordingly, this research aims to investigate key drivers of reporting. The study undertakes content analysis of sustainability reports from leading Australian companies and conducts multinomial logistic regression analysis to provide evidence on drivers of disclosure. Using institutional theory and agency theory, a set of hypothesised relationships between Sustainable Development Goal disclosures and determinants of disclosure are developed. The study finds that Sustainable Development Goal reporting practices are a developing trend driven by external institutional factors and organisational characteristics. The study concludes there is need for a more robust Sustainable Development Goal measurement and reporting framework that can support companies to align their business strategies with the goals. This research makes several contributions to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the determinants of specific attributes of Sustainable Development Goal disclosure; empirical insights into potential motives for Sustainable Development Goal reporting; and a unique disclosure quality index that will be useful to academics and practitioners interested in assessing and ranking Sustainable Development Goal disclosures

Fewer than half of Australia’s 150 biggest companies have committed to zero emissions by 2050

Corporate Australia has of late become a strong voice for more action on climate change. Earlier this month the Business Council of Australia, which represents the nation’s 100 biggest companies, declared its support for the federal government committing to halving its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and net zero emissions by 2050. Our research on Autralia’s 150 biggest public companies supports the Business Council’s claim that commitments are growing. But there’s still a long way to go in showing evidence of tangible progress

SDG measurement and disclosure by ASX150

The present study assesses the extent to which the top 150 Australian Securities Exchange companies (ASX 150) by market capitalisation (as at 1st July 2019)2 are integrating and disclosing their uptake of the SDGs in their business strategies and annual reporting processes. Data analyses is based on the content analysis of annual reports, and separate sustainability and integrated reports of the ASX150 with the financial year ending in 2018. The analysis aimed to identify systematic trends in SDG measurement and reporting by the ASX150, including their awareness, approach, commitment, governance, and integration of SDGs. A coding list was established based on a review of the SDG Business Compass Guide3 the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards4, and recent past surveys, namely the following three studies: 1. 'SDG Reporting Challenge' by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC, 2018) that involved 729 companies from 21 countries and territories and six broad industry sectors.5 2. 'How to Report on the SDGs' by KPMG (2018) where the sample was the G250.6 The G250 refers to the world's 250 largest companies by revenue based on the Fortune 500 ranking. 3. 'ASX 20 Disclosures on the Sustainable Development Goals' by Think Impact (2018) that examined the largest 20 Australian publicly listed companies (by market capitalisation) with a 2017 year end