Abstract
Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14; life below water) is one of the most important SDGs considering global research convergence and attention. Despite the extensive research convergence and research outputs, it is surprising that accounting journals have not been part of the publication outlets of these extensive research convergences and outputs (acknowledging that accounting scholars have contributed to ocean/marine accounting research in other journals). We aim to conceptualize a research agenda for ocean accounting by evaluating the current accounting and assurance measures for underground waste injection. In particular, to revisit the call to focus on the underground injection of waste as not only a financial accountability issue but also a social and environmental accountability issue. Thus, focusing on how scholars and journals may contribute to accounting for and assuring underground waste injection as part of ocean accounting. Using the contemporary academic discourse on climate change and underground injection of waste, we conceptually discuss the current system of accounting for underground injection of waste. We describe the current accounting system and the assurance of underground injection of waste in the United States, exploring issues and likely improvements. Although the current financial accounting and assurance measures are ideal, they do not consider qualitative socioenvironmental management elements of safety and biodiversity protection. We detail how qualitative socioenvironmental management elements of safety and biodiversity protection may be incorporated into the current accounting methods, outline the implications of this study for policy, practice, and research, and provide avenues for further research.
Presenters
Adeyemi AdebayoSenior Research Fellow, Auditing, University of South Africa, Gauteng, South Africa
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Human Impacts and Responsibility
KEYWORDS
Accounting, Biodiversity Accounting, Extinction Accounting, Critical Accounting, Hazardous Waste, Ocean
