Must Firms Adopt Environmental Accounting? Adoption Challenges in Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose of the article: The purpose of this paper is to consider why firms find it challenging to adopt environmental accounting. The authors argue that environmental accounting is one of the important vehicles corporate bodies utilize in communicating with the external world. With the increase in complexities of the business world, the role of environmental information has been gradually increasing for making economic decision. Methodology/methods: The research is exploratory in nature and only considers a small subset of Nigerian firms. However, several firms may be faced with varied challenges of adopting environmental accounting. The authors used four hundred (400) questionnaires and data obtained from the field survey was analyzed using t-values. Scientific aim: The paper examined the adoption challenges of environmental accounting among Nigerian firms. Findings: The study found that lack of environmental awareness by employees, shortage of environmental information and higher adaptation costs hinders environmental accounting adoption in Nigeria. Moreover, there are no clear-cut guidelines of environmental accounting on issues such as environmental costs, assets, liabilities, recognition and measurement of such costs. Conclusions: Government and accounting regulatory bodies should play more active role in the development of environmental accounting and reporting guidelines by making it reliable and relevant to users. As a matter of fact, there should be a deadline imposed on Nigerian companies to fully adopt and implement environmental reporting guidelines. In addition, employees should be trained on environmental reporting techniques.