Impact of Carbon Pricing on Voluntary Environmental
Disclosures of Electricity Generating Sector: A Multi
Country Analysis
A thesis submitted
in fulfilment of the requirements
for the degree of Master of Business
Sohanur Rahman
MBA (AIS) University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
BBA (AIS) University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
School of Accounting
College of Business
RMIT University
June 2018
i
Declaration
I, Sohanur Rahman, certify that the work completed is mine alone, that this
document has not been submitted for qualifications at any other academic institution,
that the content of this thesis is the result of work which has been carried out since
the official commencement date of the approved research program, that any editorial
work undertaken by a third party is acknowledged, and relevant procedures and
guidelines have been followed.
Sohanur Rahman
June, 2018
ii
Acknowledgements
First of all, I am grateful to almighty Allah who has sent me here on earth to learn
and grow and blessed me in so many ways through special people who are an
inseparable part of my life.
I wish to offer my deepest gratitude to both of my supervisors, Dr. Tehmina Khan
and Dr. Pavithra Siriwardhane. This project could not have been accomplished
without their valuable input and proper guidance. I am deeply appreciative for the
excellent direction and support I have received from them throughout this entire
process. Since the very beginning, they have been monitoring my progress and
giving advice on both thesis and personal matters. It has been my privilege to have
them as my supervisors and mentors.
I would also like to thank Dr. Prem Yapa, PhD coordinator, School of Accounting, for
his support throughout my candidature. Many thanks are also due to the School of
Accounting research staff and other RMIT staff for their guidance and cooperation in
making my journey at RMIT smoother.
I am grateful to my distinguished colleagues in the research lab at RMIT who were
always very kind and friendly while helping and motivating me in every critical
situation at different stages throughout my research work at RMIT. It would be
impossible to list all the outstanding individuals who I have met here. I specially want
to mention the name of Tinh and Lalitha for their unconditional support and
assistance. I also thank all of my friends in Bangladesh and Australia.
I was fortunate to receive a considerable amount of valuable feedback from
examiners, academic journal reviewers, discussants and audiences in conferences I
attended. Their comments and suggestions assisted me to improvise my thesis and
other publication works.
Finally, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to my father, mother and younger
brother for their unconditional love and support. I am grateful to my wife,
Mumtaheena Anwar, for providing me with friendship and an extraordinary level of
support, encouragement and understanding during this endeavour. They all made
my journey enjoyable. I dedicate this thesis to them.
iii
Thesis Related Research Outcomes
Refereed Conference Papers
Rahman, S., Khan, T. and Siriwardhane, P., 2018, ‘Impact of the non-government
guidance on the voluntary environmental disclosures of EU electricity companies’,
41st Annual Congress of the European Accounting Association (EAA, Milan, Italy) 30
May – 1 June.
iv
Table of Contents
Declaration ………………………………………………………………………….....
i
Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………………….....
ii
Thesis Related Research Outcomes ………………………………………………
iii
Table of Contents ……………………………………………………………………..
iv
List of Tables …………………………………………………………………………..
vii
List of Figures …………………………………………………………………………
vii
List of Graphs …………………………………………………………………………
vii
Abbreviation …………………………………………………………………………...
viii
Abstract ………………………………………………………………………………...
ix
Chapter One: Introduction
1.1 Introduction …………………………………………………………………………
1
1.2 Background and rationale for the research …………………………………….
1
1.3 Research objectives ………………………………………………………………
3
1.4 Research questions ……………………………………………………………….
4
1.5 Overview of methodology and methods ………………………………………..
4
1.6 Organisation of the remaining chapters …………………………………………
6
1.7 Structure of the research
7
Chapter Two: Emergence of Carbon Pricing as an Emissions Reduction
Strategy
2.1 Introduction …………………………………………………………………………
9
2.2 Emissions: Causes and effects …………………………………………………..
9
2.3 Carbon/ GHG emissions as a major concern for the environment …………..
11
2.3.1 Impact of carbon emissions around the world ………………………
12
2.3.2 Carbon emissions by different sectors ……………………………….
13
2.3.3 Electricity generating sector and carbon emissions ………………..
15
2.4 Carbon emissions pricing mechanisms …………………………………………
19
2.4.1 Carbon tax ………………………………………………………………
20
2.4.2 Emissions trading scheme …………………………………………….
21
2.4.3 Carbon pricing and reduction of emissions ………………………….
23
2.5 Carbon pricing and voluntary environmental reporting ………………………..
26
