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Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals : an enabling role of accounting research

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Final_version_revised_AAAJ_05_2017_2929_.pdf (635.5Kb)
Date
15/01/2018
Author
Bebbington, Jan
Unerman, Jeffrey
Keywords
Accounting
Sustainable Development Goals
Social and environmental accounting
Accounting and sustainable development
HF5601 Accounting
T-NDAS
BDC
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Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to establish and advance the role of academic accounting in the pursuit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are regarded as the most salient point of departure for understanding and achieving environmental and human development ambitions up to (and no doubt beyond) the year 2030. Design/methodology/approach This paper provides a synthesis of interdisciplinary perspectives on sustainable development and integration of this with the accounting for sustainability literature. In addition, potential accounting research contributions are proposed so as to support the development of new research avenues. Findings Existing research in accounting that is relevant to individual SDGs serves as an initial link between them and the accounting discipline. At the same time, the SDGs focus highlights new sites for empirical work (including interdisciplinary investigations) as well as inviting innovation in accounting theoretical frameworks. Moreover, the SDGs provide a context for (re)invigorating accounting’s contribution to sustainable development debates. Originality/value This is the first paper to explore the roles academic accounting can play in furthering achievement of the SDGs through enhanced understanding, critiquing and advancing of accounting policy, practice and theorizing. It is also the first paper to propose a research agenda in this area.
Citation
Bebbington , J & Unerman , J 2018 , ' Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals : an enabling role of accounting research ' , Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal , vol. 31 , no. 1 , pp. 2-24 . https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-05-2017-2929
Publication
Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal
Status
Peer reviewed
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-05-2017-2929
ISSN
0951-3574
Type
Journal article
Rights
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Group Publishing Limited. This work is made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-05-2017-2929
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  • University of St Andrews Research
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/18369

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