Yes / This study aims to examine the extent to which corporate governance structures and ownership types are associated with the level of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosures (CSRD) in a developing country. Design/methodology/approach: Multiple regression techniques are used to estimate the effect of corporate governance structures and ownership types on CSRD using a sample of Libyan oil and gas companies between 2009 and 2013. Findings: First, our results suggest that although the level of CSRD in Libya is low in comparison to its western counterparts, ownership factors have a significant positive influence on CSRD. Second, we find board meetings to have a positive impact on CSRD. However, we fail to find any significant effect of board size and presence of CSR committees on CSRD. Overall, our results support prior theoretical evidence that pressures exerted by the government and external stakeholders have a considerable influence in promoting firm-level CSRD activities, specifically as a legitimising mechanism in fragile states. Research limitations/implications: First, our research is based on the annual reports and it did not examine any other reports or other mass communication mechanism that companies’ management may use to disclose CSR information. Future studies might consider disclosures in other channels, if any, such as the internet, CSR reports etc. Additionally, this research adopts the neo-institutional theory perspective. Future studies might integrate multi-theoretical lense to offer a richer basis for understanding and explaining CSRD determinants. Originality/value: Our research contributes to the literature by first providing additional evidence for existing studies, which suggest that on average better-governed companies are more liable to follow a more socially responsible agenda than poorly governed companies as a legitimising mechanism in fragile states. Also, our study overcomes a major weakness in existing Libyan studies, which have mainly used descriptive data.

Background: On the 21st of April 2021, the EU Commission declared the adoption of Directive (EU) 2022/2464. This directive will significantly increase reporting requirements for companies within its scope. To this date, these sustainability standards are the most comprehensive yet and they aim to foster sustainability reporting quality. However, the concept of quality is multidimensional and empirical evidence related to SRQ and mandatory reporting standards are ambiguous. However, this new directive has not yet been researched thoroughly. Considering it will disrupt the way companies conduct their sustainability reporting, it would foster a research contribution to explore the effects the directive will have on SRQ.  Purpose: This thesis seeks to measure the compliance with, and quality of, the cross- cutting and topical standards derived from Directive (EU) 2022/2464 in large Swedish companies.  Method: The applied research method is quantitative with a deductive approach, where a hypothesis was generated based on existing literature on sustainability reporting quality. Data was collected from annual and sustainability reports of 45 companies. To measure CSRD compliance and the quality index, content analysis has been used. This facilitates transposition of qualitative information to quantitative data. The data was analysed using the statistical program SPSS.  Results: The results from the study show a significant positive relationship between compliance with CSRD and all the dependent variables of measuring the quality of sustainability reporting. Furthermore, the study shows that the average degree of compliance with CSRD requirements is currently 34% in the population, where the highest achieved score was 58% and the lowest achieved score was 7%.

Research Purpose: The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is a new regulation within the EU thataims to end greenwashing, by aligning existing frameworks, expand the scope including valuechain activities, simplify reporting, and increase comparability of EU firms for investors andstakeholders. The CSRD was established in January 2023, therefore the purpose of this study isto explore and research the CSRD impact and the corporate response of firms subject to itsstandards soon. Research Question: - What are real-estate firms' corporate responses to the CSRD? - How will CSRD impact sustainability work throughout the value chain? Methodology: To answer its research question the study takes a qualitative approach, since thelack of previous research on CSRD, in order to understand the specific context of thephenomena. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with case companies and experts withinthe field of CSRD. Results: The results indicate that firms are positive to the new sustainability reporting that theCSRD proposes, it simplifies previous sustainability reporting but comes with complexities ofadministrative burden and firms having to rethink some processes. Therefore, the firms take animitative response in order to save costs and resources. The case companies perceivesustainability as crucial for survival, but mainly to build legitimacy and cost-efficiency. Thevalue chain implementation poses the biggest challenge for firms, due to lack of availability andcontrol over value chain partners outside of the EU reach.

This thesis explores the sustainability challenges and opportunities within the data center sector, with a specific focus on Atea, a leading player in the digital infrastructure industry. As organizations increasingly depend on IT systems for operational efficiency, the environmental impact of data centers has come under scrutiny. With the increasing demands for sustainability driven by both market forces and stringent EU regulations, this study examines how organizations, particularly within the data center industry, can adapt to meet these emerging requirements. This study aims to contribute an understanding of strategies and measures that can be implemented to achieve more sustainable data center operations. Our research employed a qualitative methodology, incorporating both literature review and a case study to gather insights into sustainable practices in the data center industry. Atea’s role as a case study provided practical perspective on the implementation of sustainability strategies within the sector. The findings highlight significant challenges, including energy consumption, waste management, and regulatory compliance. Conversely, the study also identifies opportunities such as the adoption of green technologies, improved energy efficiency, and strategic waste reduction practices. The implications of this research are twofold: it offers a roadmap for data centers aiming to enhance their sustainability profile, and it contributes to the broader discourse on the environmental responsibilities of the IT-sector. Future research should investigate the real-world impact of new EU regulations in the data center sector, focusing on how national legislation aligns with EU requirements and their practical application by data centers.

Hållbarhetsarbete och hållbarhetsrapportering är något som växer inom företagsvärlden. Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, eller CSRD, är ett nytt tvingande direktiv från EU som kommer att påverka företag framförallt gällande hållbarhetsredovisningen och vad den ska innehålla. Företagen som påverkas av direktivet kommer behöva arbeta på nya sätt för att samla in data och ett förändringsarbete för att uppfylla kraven kommer att krävas. Hanteringen av direktivet och förändringsarbetet medför insatser och nya sätt att arbeta på hos företagen. Ledarskapet kommer i sin tur ha en betydande roll i hanteringen eftersom det orkestrerar förändringsarbetet som sker hos företagen. Det finns väldigt lite forskning på CSRD, speciellt från ett ledarskapsperspektiv. Därför blir det intressant och lämpligt för denna studie att utforska området. Avsikten med studien är att skapa förståelse för ledarskapets roll vid organisatorisk förändring, detta i kontexten av implementeringen av CSRD hos företag. För att skapa förståelse för förändringsprocessen i företagen används Kotters modell. Ledarskapet delas upp i chefskap och ledarskapet med särskilda karaktärsdrag som förknippas med de två grenarna. Vid hanteringen av CSRD framkommer olika karaktärsdrag och en konceptuell modell utformas. Den konceptuella modellen inkluderar transformativt ledarskap, transaktionellt ledarskap och karaktärsdrag från chefskap och ledarskap. För att samla in empiri har semistrukturerade djupintervjuer utförts med 14 svenska börsnoterade företag. Respondenterna är ansvariga för implementeringen av CSRD i respektive företag. För att analysera det empiriska underlaget används tematisk analys. Vad som framkommit vid analysen är att företagen är i olika stadier av förändringsprocessen och inget av företagen har förankrat processerna fullt ut. Företagen menar även att detta bara början av en inkrementell förändring och att arbetet kommer utvecklas med tiden. Karaktärsdrag som förknippas med chefskap och det transaktionella har framkommit i större utsträckning än karaktärsdrag från ledarskap och det transformativa, men det existerar ett samspel mellan dem. Motivationen är en viktig faktor för att förändringsarbetet ska framskrida. Både inslag av inre motivation och yttre motivation framkom i det empiriska materialet. Studien har bidragit till området genom att skapa förståelse för ledarskapets roll vid införande av CSRD i svenska börsnoterade företag. Ledare borde ta hänsyn till att samspelet av chefskap och ledarskap är viktigt vid hanteringen av förändring orsakad av tvingande CSR direktiv.

Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka den relation som finns mellan företagsmässiga faktorer, som enligt teori och tidigare litteratur kan påverka företags hållbarhetsredovisning, och deras ESG-betyg. Följaktligen är syftet även att undersöka om det finns skillnader i hållbarhetsredovisningen för medlemsländer i EU och övriga länder i regionen Europa, för att utröna om den Europeiska unionens lagar och regler har spridits över gränser och på så sätt institutionaliserats. Metod: Studien använder sig av en deduktiv ansats med en kvantitativ metod, för att undersöka data insamlad från årsredovisningar via databasen Refinitiv för perioden 2020–2023. ESG-betyg generareas av databasen och är inhämtat i samband med övriga data. Urvalet består av cirka 2 500 publika företag inom regionen Europa. De hypoteser som studien leder fram till testas stegvis genom multipel regressionsanalys. Den beroende variabeln är ESG-betyg och de oberoende är finansiell styrka, FoU, EU samt miljökänslig bransch. Studien använder sig även av två kontrollvariabler; företagsstorlek samt skuldsättningsgrad. Slutsats: Undersökningen kunde lokalisera ett negativt signifikant samband mellan ESG och finansiell styrka. Det styrker viss tidigare forskning som påvisat ett negativt samband mellan dessa variabler. Resultatet går i linje med intressentteorin, de företag som tar sitt sociala ansvar kan välja att avstå från lukrativa affärsmöjligheter och kan där med inneha en lägre finansiell styrka. Studien kunde även se signifikanta positiva samband mellan ESG och FoU samt EU tillhörighet. En slutsats som dras från detta resultat är att de företag som investerar i FoU även tenderar att ha en starkare hållbarhetsredovisning och tar sitt sociala ansvar. Studien styrker uppfattningen om att innovation är nyckeln till hållbarhet. Originalitet/värde: Tidigare studier som har undersökt sambandet mellan hållbarhetsredovisning och företagsmässiga faktorer har kontradiktoriska resultat. Därmed finns det utrymme för att vidare undersöka dessa samband och bekräfta eller dementera tidigare forskning. Denna studie bidrar till ökad kunskap för relationen mellan ESG och företagsmässiga faktorer för publika företag inom Europa. Studien belyser även skillnader som finns på detta område mellan företag med huvudkontor inom EU och de företag som är belägna i övriga Europa. / The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between corporate factors, which according to theory and previous literature can influence their sustainability reporting, and their ESG score. Consequently, the aim is also to investigate if there are differences in sustainability reporting among EU member countries and other countries in the European region, in order to determine if the laws and regulations of EU have spread across borders and thereby institutionalized. Method: The study employs a deductive approach with a quantitative method to examine data collected from annual reports through the Refinitiv database for the period 2020-2023. ESG scores are generated by the database and are obtained alongside other data. The sample consists of approximately 2,500 public companies within the European region. The hypotheses generated by the study are assessed incrementally through multiple regression analysis. The dependent variable is the ESG score, and the independent variables are financial strength, R&D, EU membership, and environmentally sensitive industry. The study also includes two control variables: company size and leverage ratio. Conclusion: The study was able to identify a significant negative relationship between ESG and financial strength. This supports previous research that has demonstrated a negative association between these variables. The result aligns with stakeholder theory, as companies that prioritize social responsibility may choose to forgo lucrative business opportunities, potentially leading to lower financial strength. The study also found significant positive relationships between ESG and R&D as well as EU membership. A conclusion drawn from these findings is that companies investing in R&D also tend to have stronger sustainability reporting and demonstrate social responsibility. The study reinforces the belief that innovation is the key to sustainability. Originality/Value: Previous studies examining the relationship between sustainability reporting and corporate factors have yielded contradictory results. Therefore, there is room for further investigation to confirm or refute prior research. This study contributes to increased knowledge regarding the relationship between ESG and corporate factors for public companies within Europe. The study also highlights differences in this area between companies headquartered in the EU and tho

As part of the EU’s sustainable strategy in reducing emissions and combating climate change the EU introduced the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in 2022. This directive requires the reporting of sustainability information from a significantly wider group of companies. The CSRD imposes higher demands on reporting and especially within a company’s Scope 3 transportation emissions. The study aims to identify and understand the challenges newly affected companies face in collecting and reporting scope 3 transportation emissions to comply with the CSRD. The study also intends to shed light on the resource and capability gaps that newly affected companies encounter and propose strategies and solutions to address these challenges. The study draws from institutional theory combined with are source-based view of a company to propose a hypothesis that companies face resource and capability gaps due to institutional pressure. The research methodology employed was exploratory multi-method qualitative research. The findings identified how companies, needing to adapt to the CSRD, perceived a regulatory institutional pressure in the form of new and higher requirements and demands now placed on them. In addition the exploration resulted in identification of external challenges, affecting companies ability to comply with the new legalization. Furthermore, internal and supplier challenges were discovered as factors within companies that affect their compliance. These highlighted the presence of resource and capability gaps within companies. In order to close these gaps, the study proposes several strategies and solutions together with a roadmap to address these challenges, ultimately guiding companies towards managing institutional pressures and enhancing their sustainable competitive advantage. Solutions regarding management and strategy as well as tangible operations were identified. These solutions and strategies include developing a sustainability culture within the organization, engaging with stakeholders through collaboration and communication efforts, and implementing technology solutions for data collection and analysis. The study can potentially be utilized by companies to navigate useful solutions when trying to comply with the CSRD. Additionally, the study contributes to guiding companies towards a future position of managing institutional pressure while enhancing their sustainable competitive advantage. Companies are encouraged to shift and transform their viewpoint of complying with the institutional pressure of CSRD from a compliance-focused approach towards a corporate social responsibility-driven sustainable approach with long-term value development. The study thus contributes with a new perspective by highlighting how complying with sustainability reporting can become a tool for advancing corporate responsibility and contributing to a more sustainable development and responsible business landscape.

This research investigates the challenges Scandinavian organizations face in adapting their ESG reporting practices to comply with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), introduced in January 2024. The CSRD aims to enhance Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting by implementing double materiality assessment (DMA) and expanding the scope of value chain reporting. Given its novelty and the limited academic literature on this topic, this research provides critical insights into these transformations.  Three research questions guide this study: (1) How do Scandinavian organizations conduct the DMA of their ESG reporting under the CSRD? (2) How do Scandinavian organizations address challenges in ESG reporting along the entire value chain after adopting the CSRD? (3) How is the CSRD reshaping the ESG reporting challenges faced by Scandinavian organizations? The research employs a qualitative, exploratory approach, including expert interviews and textual analysis. Grounded in Stakeholder Theory and Value Chain Theory, the study provides perspectives for understanding stakeholder engagement and value chain dynamics in ESG reporting. The findings reveal that organizations exhibit varying approaches to DMA, influenced by conflicting definitions of materiality, differing stakeholder engagement practices and subjectivity. Despite ESRS guidance, this creates challenges in comparability and implementation. In terms of value chain reporting, organizations face significant challenges in data gathering and transparency. The CSRD reshapes ESG reporting by standardizing requirements and addressing previous inconsistencies of its predecessor, the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD). However, the CSRD introduces both opportunities and challenges for Scandinavian organizations.  By integrating Stakeholder and Value Chain Theory, this study highlights the importance of comprehensive stakeholder engagement and robust data systems. The findings underscore the need for ongoing adjustments and improvements of the reporting standards as organizations navigate the evolving ESG landscape under the CSRD. Ultimately, the CSRD is contributing to more sustainable and transparent business practices.