The attitudes of accountants towards corporate environmental disclosure (CED) in Libya. A review and future direction
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/WJEMSD-07-2013-0040 |
| Pages | 119-127 |
| Date | 14 April 2014 |
| Published date | 14 April 2014 |
| Author | Nassr Saleh Mohamad Ahmad |
| Subject Matter | Strategy,Business ethics,Sustainability |
The attitudes of accountants
towards corporate environmental
disclosure (CED) in Libya
A review and future direction
Nassr Saleh Mohamad Ahmad
Business School, Libyan Academy, Tripoli, Libya
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to complement the literature reviews on corporate
environmental disclosure (CED) with special focus on the developing countries. The paper focuses on
the attitudes of accountants towards CED in Libya.
Design/methodology/approach – A desk-based research method, using a classification framework
of two categories, has been applied in this study. These two categories are the methodologies used to
capture empirical data and the results of studies.
Findings – The results of this study indicate that almost all previous studies related to the attitudes
of accountants towards CED in Libya utilised the two-dimensional analysis, which combines a
questionnaire with content analysis. This afforded a better understanding of the picture than that
provided by the questionnaire alone. Moreover, the results indicate that most such studies show
that whilst the accountants have positive attitudes towards CED, progress is limited, with a low level
of CED practices.
Originality/value – Reviews of attitudes of accountants towards CED in different parts of the
world are always welcome and are arguably somewhat verylimited in developing countries in general
and in Libya in particular. This paper provides a foundation for future research and development
in the area of CED.
Keywords Accounting, Developing countries, Business, Attitudes of accountants,
Corporate environmental disclosure, Desk-based research method, Two-dimensional analysis, Libya
Paper type Literatu re review
Introduction
The business community faces many pressures from the green consumer, environmental
groups, employees and investors to accept its environmental responsibility (Dixon
et al., 2004; Al-Drugi and Abdo, 2012; Mahdeo et al., 2011). It has been increasingly,
mostly in the developed countries, accepted that corpo rate environmental disclosure
(CED) is important as it provides information on asset revaluations, cost analysis
in energy use, investment appraisal, environmental liabilities and costs and benefits
of environmental improvement programmes, which are relevant and necessary in
business decision making (Coopers and Lybrand Consultants, 1993; Deegan et al.,
1996; Boyce, 2000). Thus, the impact of environmental performance of enterprise
on its financial health has become a matter of growing concern to investors,
creditors, government and public at large (Coopers and Lybrand Consultants, 1993;
Pahuja, 2009).
A challenge more than a decade ago by Mike Lickiss, former president of the
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), suggests that
accountants need to respond to environmental issues. Even then, Lickiss (1991), argued
that: “First we (accountants) can encourage companies to develop innovative
environmental policies, to disclose them in the financial statements and to keep them
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/2042-5961.htm
Received 30 July 2013
Revised 30 July 2013
Accepted 31 July 2013
World Journal of Entrepreneurship,
Management and Sustainable
Development
Vol.10 No.2, 2014
pp. 119-127
rEmeraldGroup Publishing Limited
2042-5961
DOI 10.1108/W JEMSD-07-2013- 0040
119
Corporate
environmental
disclosure
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