Influencing sustainability: the role of lobbyist characteristics in shaping the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive

Erekle Pirveli, Esther Ortiz-Martínez, Salvador Marín-Hernández and Paul Thompson

Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, 2024, vol. 16, issue 2, 415-442

Abstract: Purpose - This study aims to examine how the characteristics of lobbyists – type, size and country of origin – affect the nature of the feedback submitted to the European Commission regarding the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. Design/methodology/approach - This research is grounded in an analysis of 143 public comment letters, encompassing the entire spectrum of feedback received. The authors begin with a content analysis of the directive’s 20 key items to categorize responses, construct a feedback index based on them and then use ordinary least squares, robust and ordered logit regressions. Findings - This analysis reveals the expanding concept of “users” in sustainability reporting, with active lobbying from both business associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). While the directive is generally well received, concerns arise regarding its broad scope, third-party assurance, forward-looking information and the rushed timeline. Lobbyists’ characteristics play a significant role in shaping their feedback. NGOs show stronger support than business associations, with companies in between. Smaller lobbyists favor simplified disclosures, and notable French support suggests a potential “reversed lobbying” effect, possibly due to the French presidency’s role in shaping the European sustainability reporting framework. Practical implications - This in-depth content analysis of feedback on the directive provides a comprehensive summary measure that serves as a powerful tool for standard-setters to develop sector-specific sustainability standards. Social implications - As sustainability reporting gains traction and zero-emission targets grow more urgent, understanding the standard-setting process is increasingly crucial. Originality/value - This research shifts the focus of lobbying from financial to sustainability reporting. The authors build on regulatory capture and public interest theories by incorporating networking theory and the phenomenon of reversed lobbying to uncover key variations.

Keywords: M14; M41; M42; M48; Q5; Lobbying; Interest groups; Political advocacy; Lobbyist characteristics; Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive; European Sustainability Reporting Standards (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.110 ... d&utm_campaign=repec (text/html)
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.110 ... d&utm_campaign=repec (application/pdf)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:sampjp:sampj-03-2023-0162

DOI: 10.1108/SAMPJ-03-2023-0162

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal is currently edited by Prof Carol Adams

More articles in Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal from Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Emerald Support ().