Environmental Accounting
Environmental Accounting is an area of accounting whose main objective is to measure and record information related to the environmental impacts caused by the activities of companies. It seeks to provide relevant information for making sustainable decisions and assist in the environmental management of organizations.
With the growing concern for sustainability and environmental preservation, Environmental Accounting has become an important tool for companies that wish to adopt environmentally responsible practices. It allows organizations to assess the costs and benefits of their environmental actions, as well as identify opportunities for improvement and reduction of impacts.
One of the main features of Environmental Accounting is the measurement of so-called "environmental liabilities". These liabilities are the damage caused to the environment by the company's activities, such as air, water and soil pollution, for example. Environmental Accounting seeks to quantify these damages and record them as liabilities in the company's balance sheet.
In addition to environmental liabilities, Environmental Accounting also records environmental assets. These assets are the natural resources that the company owns, such as forest reserves, permanent preservation areas, among others. Accounting for these assets allows the company to have a more complete view of its environmental assets.
Another important aspect of Environmental Accounting is sustainability reporting. These reports present information about the company's environmental practices, the impacts caused and the measures adopted to minimize them. These reports are used by investors, customers and other stakeholders to assess the company's environmental performance.
In summary, Environmental Accounting is an area of accounting that seeks to record and measure the environmental impacts of company activities. It aims to assist in the environmental management of organizations, providing relevant information for making sustainable decisions. With the growing concern for sustainability, Environmental Accounting has become an important tool for companies that wish to adopt environmentally responsible practices.
