A Comparative Analysis of Carbon Reporting by Electricity Generating Companies in China, India, and Japan

Abstract

This study investigates the carbon (or greenhouse gas emissions, GHG) reporting of electricity generating companies inthe three top carbon (GHG) emitting countries in Asia, namely China, India and Japan.Using the disclosure index adapted from Choi et al. (2013) on the most recent annual reports, stand-alone sustainability reports, and corporate websites, the study finds that 45 companies (out of 90) made some form of carbon disclosure.Japan leads the sample with 60% of reporting companies, followed by China (58%), and India (41%). The average of disclosure score is 10.50% indicating a low level of disclosure. Most of the disclosures are pertaining to climate change risks and actions taken (40% of the sample companies), detailed plans or strategies to reduce GHG emissions (30%), and total GHG emissions (23%).Considering that electricity generating companies are the major contributor to carbon emissions build-up and the prospect of corporate disclosures in reducing carbon emissions, such a low disclosure by companies in the top emitting countries could lead the mission to reduce global emissions by 2020to crumble.