RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CARBON ACCOUNTING AND PERFORMANCE  OF CORPORATE FIRMS IN NIGERIA

Authors

  • OBAFEMI, Tunde Olutokunboh (Ph.D) Department of Accounting and Finance, Faculty of Management Sciences, Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi state. Author
  • OYEDEPO, Odunayo Fasilat Department of Accounting and Finance, Faculty of Management Sciences, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo state. Author

Keywords:

Carbon Accounting, Performance, Profitability, Corporate  Governance.

Abstract

The growing problems of climate change and global warming pose a threat to the future 
of the earth. Many stakeholder organizations are voicing concerns about these problems 
and offering a variety of solutions. Governments are particularly being urged by 
environmental organizations to pass legislation controlling greenhouse gas (GHG) 
emissions and to lead the charge in creating policies to reduce carbon emissions. Thus, it 
is now crucial for businesses to safeguard their brands by developing proactive plans for 
environmental issues and disclosing GHG emissions data in response to stakeholder 
demands. The study examined the relationship between carbon emissions disclosure by 
corporate governance and performance of financial institutions registered by the Central 
Bank of Nigeria. Anchored on Stakeholder Theory, the study emplo yed a correlational 
research design using secondary data from 10 financial institutions licensed by the 
Central Bank of Nigeria, covering a five-year period (2018–2022). Purposive sampling
was adopted, and data analysis was conducted using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) 
regression method via SPSS version 2025 to assess the impact of profitability and 
corporate governance on carbon accounting. The findings revealed a significant and 
positive relationship between carbon accounting and firm performance at the 5% 
significance level. Furthermore, both profitability and corporate governance have 
positive and significant relationship with carbon accounting. Based on the findings of the 
study, it was concluded that carbon accounting has a significant effect on the 
performance of corporate firms in Nigeria. Therefore, it was recommended that Nigerian 
companies should consider investment in and disclosure of carbon accounting, more 
independent directors and financial expertise should be considered in the composition of 
board of directors

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

  • OYEDEPO, Odunayo Fasilat , Department of Accounting and Finance, Faculty of Management Sciences, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo state.

    (Ph.D Student) 

References

Amahalu, N. N., & Ezechukwu, B. O. (2020, September 28–30). Effect of corporate

governance on financial performance: Empirical evidence from quoted

transportation firms in Nigeria [Paper presentation]. International E-Conference

on Alternative Business Models for Emerging Enterprises and Businesses in Post

COVID-19 Era, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Nigeria.

Amahalu, N. N., Ezenwaka, F. A., Obi, J. C., & Okudo, C. L. (2022). Effect of treasury

single account on accountability in Nigeria public sector. International Journal of

Management Studies and Social Science Research, 4(5), 66–76.

Arowoshegbe, A. O., & Uniamikogbo, E. (2019). Accounting information and

environmental performance of manufacturing companies in Nigeria. Journal of

Accounting and Financial Management, 5(2), 45–59.

Baboukardos, D. (2021). Market valuation of greenhouse gas emissions under a

mandatory reporting regime: Evidence from the UK. Accounting Forum, 41(3),

–233.

Busch, T., & Hoffmann, V. H. (2019). How hot is your bottom line? Linking carbon and

financial performance. Business and Society, 50(2), 233–265.

Carbon Policy Initiative (CPI). (2019). Global landscape of climate finance 2019.

https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2019-

Global-Landscape-of-Climate-Finance.pdf

Chapple, L., Clarkson, P. M., & Gold, D. L. (2018). The cost of carbon: Capital market

effects of the proposed emission trading scheme (ETS). Abacus, 49(1), 1–33.

Choi, B. B., Lee, D., & Psaros, J. (2018). An analysis of Australian company carbon

emission disclosures. Pacific Accounting Review, 25(1), 58–79.

Chu, C. I., Chatterjee, B., & Brown, A. (2018). The current status of greenhouse gas

reporting by Chinese companies: A test of legitimacy theory. Managerial

Auditing Journal, 28(2), 114–139.

Clarkson, P. M., Li, Y., Pinnuck, M., & Richardson, G. D. (2019). The valuation

relevance of greenhouse gas emissions under the European Union carbon

emissions trading scheme. European Accounting Review, 24(3), 551–580.

Cowan, S., & Deegan, C. (2021). Corporate disclosure reactions to Australia’s first

national emission reporting scheme. Accounting and Finance, 51(2), 409–433.

De Aguiar, T. R. S., & Bebbington, J. (2019). Disclosure on climate change: Analyzing

the UK ETS effects. Accounting Forum, 38(3), 227–240.

Elsayih, J., Tang, Q., & Lan, Y.-C. (2018). Corporate governance and carbon

transparency: Australian experience. Accounting Research Journal, 31(3), 405–422.

Eze, N. C., & Ijeoma, N. B. (2020). Corporate governance and environmental disclosure

practices in small and medium enterprises in Nigeria. Journal of Accounting and

Sustainability, 4(1), 23–37.

Freedman, M., & Park, J. D. (2018). Mandated climate change disclosures by firms

participating in the regional greenhouse gas initiative. Social and Environmental

Accountability Journal, 34(1), 29–44.

Freeman, R. E. (1984). Strategic management: A stakeholder approach. Pitman.

Freeman, R. E. (2019). Stakeholder theory of modern corporations. In T. L. Beauchamp,

N. E. Bowie, & D. G. Arnold (Eds.), Ethical theory and business (10th ed.).

Pearson.

Freeman, R. E., & Alexander, M. (2018). Stakeholder management and CSR: Questions

and answers. Umwelt Wirtschafts Forum, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00550-

-0266-3

Golum, P. U., Amahalu, N. N., & Obi, J. C. (2019). Effect of firm characteristics on

environmental performance of quoted industrial goods firms in Nigeria.

International Journal of Research in Business, Economics and Management, 3(6),

–13.

Griffin, P. A., & Lont, D. H. (2018). Game changer? The impact of the VW emission

cheating scandal on the interrelation between large automakers’ equity and credit

markets. Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, 14(3), 179–196.

Griffin, P. A., & Sun, Y. (2018). Going green: Market reaction to CSR wire news

releases. Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 32(2), 93–113.

Griffin, P. A., Lont, D. H., & Sun, E. Y. (2018). The relevance to investors of greenhouse

gas emission disclosures. Contemporary Accounting Research, 34(2), 1265–1297.

Hofstrand, D. (2018). Understanding profitability. Iowa State University Extension.

https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/wholefarm/html/c3-24.html

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2018). Global warming of 1.5°C.

http://www.ipcc.ch/report/sr15/

Johnston, D. M., Sefcik, S. E., & Soderstrom, N. S. (2018). The value relevance of

greenhouse gas emissions allowances: An exploratory study in the related United

States SO2 market. European Accounting Review, 17(4), 747–764.

Liao, L., Luo, L., & Tang, Q. (2018). Gender diversity, board independence,

environmental committee and greenhouse gas disclosure. The British Accounting

Review, 47(4), 409–424.

Liesen, A., Figge, F., Hoepner, A., & Patten, D. M. (2017). Climate change and asset

prices: Are corporate carbon disclosure and performance priced appropriately?

Journal of Business Finance and Accounting, 44(1–2), 35–62.

Liu, Z., Abhayawansa, S., Jubb, C., & Perera, L. (2017). Regulatory impact on voluntary

climate change-related reporting by Australian government-owned corporations.

Financial Accountability and Management, 33(3), 264–283.

Luo, L., & Tang, Q. (2018). Carbon tax, corporate carbon profile and financial return.

Pacific Accounting Review, 26(3), 351–373.

Matsumura, E. M., Prakash, R., & Vera-Muñoz, S. C. (2019). Firm-value effects of

carbon emissions and carbon disclosures. The Accounting Review, 89(2), 695–

Ndulue, G. C., Okoye, P. V., & Amahalu, N. N. (2021). Earnings management and

shareholders’ wealth creation of quoted conglomerates in Nigeria. International

Journal of Research in Education and Sustainable Development, 1(9), 47–65.

Ndukwe, I. O., & Okoye, P. V. (2021). Profitability and sustainability reporting of

manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Journal of Accounting Research and Practice,

(2), 31–45.

Osemene, O. F., & Adegboyega, B. (2020). Corporate governance and environmental

sustainability reporting in Nigeria’s banking sector. African Journal of

Accounting and Financial Research, 3(4), 21–39.

Ott, C., Schiemann, F., & Günther, T. (2017). Disentangling the determinants of the

response and the publication decisions: The case of the carbon disclosure project.

Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 36(1), 14–33.

Prachi, J. (2020). Corporate governance: Definition, scope, and benefits. Management

Study Guide. https://www.managementstudyguide.com/corporate-governance.htm

Rankin, M., Windsor, C., & Wahyuni, D. (2011). An investigation of voluntary corporate

greenhouse gas emissions reporting in a market governance system: Australian

evidence. Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal, 24(8), 1037–1070.

Saka, C., & Oshika, T. (2019). Disclosure effects, carbon emissions and corporate value.

Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, 5(1), 22–45.

Simpson, P. (2017). Carbon disclosure: The new state of play. Huffington Post.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/carbon-disclosure-the-new_b_9777568

Sun, L. (2020). Why is corporate governance important? Business Dictionary.

http://www.businessdictionary.com/article/618/why-is-corporate-governanceimportant/

Tang, Q., & Luo, L. (2016). Corporate ecological transparency: Theories and empirical

evidence. Asian Review of Accounting, 24(4), 498–524.

Wright, C., & Nyberg, D. (2017). An inconvenient truth: How organizations translate

climate change into business as usual. Academy of Management Journal, 60(5),

–1661.

Yang, H. H., & Farley, A. (2021). Convergence or divergence? Corporate climate change

reporting in China. International Journal of Accounting and Information

Management, 24(4), 391–414.

Downloads

Published

2026-01-09