Sustainability Governance and Reported Corporate Carbon Emissions Among Saudi Firms

Résumé fourni par la source

This study aims to examine whether sustainability governance mechanisms are associated with reported corporate carbon emissions among firms listed on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) and to assess their potential implications for carbon accountability associated with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 12, 13, and 16. Using an unbalanced panel of 188 firm-year observations from 51 firms during 2014–2021, the study estimates pooled ordinary least squares models with firm-clustered robust standard errors and industry and year fixed effects. Sustainability committee presence, stand-alone sustainability reporting, and external assurance are examined separately and through a 0–3 composite score. In the joint individual-mechanism model, external assurance is positively associated with reported emissions, whereas committee presence and reporting are nonsignificant. In a separate composite model, the sustainability governance score is positive and significant. The composite coefficient remains positive and significant in the asset- and revenue-scaled carbon-intensity and one-year-lagged specifications, although the assurance result is sensitive to the intensity denominator. The findings are consistent with an interpretation in which stronger governance is associated with greater visibility and completeness of reported carbon exposure; however, the observational data cannot distinguish this mechanism conclusively from differences in underlying emissions or endogenous governance adoption. Improved visibility may support responsible reporting (SDG 12), climate accountability (SDG 13), and transparent institutions (SDG 16).

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.