Perspectives on environmental management accounting (EMA) in South Africa

Abstract

Conventional management accounting practices do not provide adequate information for managing the environment in a world where environmental concerns, as well as environment-related costs, revenues, and benefits, are on the rise. Environmental management accounting (EMA) is a tool used for balancing the interaction between the economic, social and technological factors in the development process to achieve conditions for sustainable development. In this study, a survey and case study technique is used to document a South African perspective on EMA. The findings indicate that, while EMA is gaining increasing awareness, its application is still at its infancy. Some of the elements of EMA may be found in practice, but they are not called EMA. Based on the findings, ten steps for implementing EMA are suggested