Business sustainability reporting and assurance and sustainable development goals

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to examine the association between sustainable development goals (SDGs) at the micro level and firms’ inclination to sustainability reporting and assurance (SRA). Design/methodology/approach The authors use global data from 44 countries in the 2016–2021 period and perform the probit and logistic models in testing the hypotheses. Findings The results show that socially responsible firms adopting SDGs are more likely to issue sustainability reports and obtain assurance statements. The authors find that the link between firms’ compliance with SDGs and SRA is stronger for firms domiciled in stakeholder-oriented countries. Originality/value SRA issues are gaining the attention of regulators, investors, businesses and academics worldwide. Results pertaining to the relationship between SDGs and SRA are robust to alternative measures and several sensitivity tests and, thus, provide policy, practice and research implications.

Policy Model of Thematic Village Development Based Pentahelix in Realizing Sustainable Development Goals

“…Furthermore, the private sector plays a significant role in contributing to the SDGs, transitioning from traditional business practices towards more sustainable approaches (Scheyvens et al, 2016;Claro & Esteves, 2021). The UN's endorsement of the 17 SDGs represents a shift towards sustainable development, urging businesses to prioritize their ESG sustainability performance and disclosure (Rezaee et al, 2023). Additionally, thematic villages can act as a platform for community economic empowerment, enhancing the competitiveness of local products and fostering industrial development (Subiyakto et al, 2022).…”