SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING AND CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY: AN ACCOUNTING PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Background: Sustainability reporting becomes an accounting issue when information is expected to be reliable, comparable and subject to governance. The shift from narrative corporate responsibility reports toward decision-useful disclosure increases the importance of definitions, boundaries, evidence and internal controls. Aims: This article examines the mechanisms that connect the topic to organizational or policy performance and identifies the conditions that make those mechanisms stronger or weaker. Research Method: A structured narrative review integrates peer-reviewed research with authoritative policy, statistical, and professional sources, including OECD (2024a); IFRS Foundation (2023b). Sources are coded by outcome, mechanism, boundary condition, and practical implication. Results and Conclusion: The synthesis indicates that outcomes are heterogeneous. More disclosure does not automatically create more accountability. Long reports can obscure weak performance if metrics are selectively chosen, poorly controlled or disconnected from the decisions that allocate capital and set management incentives. Six recurring themes show that implementation quality, information, capability, and institutional context frequently matter as much as the headline policy or technology. Contribution: The article offers an evidence-based framework for finance functions, boards and sustainability teams that translates the literature into decision principles without claiming primary data that were not collected.