| dc.description.abstract | This master’s thesis aims to explore the application of Environmental Management
Accounting (EMA) in the Norwegian construction industry. EMA is an accounting
method that assists companies in identifying, measuring, and managing their
environmental impacts, costs, and benefits. With the introduction of the Corporate
Sustainable Reporting Directive (CSRD) in the EU, more actors in the industry will
be required to report in accordance with the European Sustainability Reporting
Standards (ESRS), which include Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)
reporting requirements.
To achieve the objectives of the thesis, a qualitative multi-case study has been
conducted, involving five selected actors in the construction industry who will fall
under the scope of CSRD in 2024/25. The study maps out how these companies
use EMA for reporting purposes and how their control systems facilitate effective
reporting.
The findings reveal significant variation in the level of EMA use and associated tools
among the companies in the industry studied. Companies with a longer history of
sustainability reporting demonstrate greater sophistication in their use of EMA. These
companies possess more advanced tools and have automated reporting processes to
a greater extent. However, the implementation of EMA faces several challenges in
the industry, including the complexity of the CSRD, underdeveloped data collection
tools, and the management of substantial amounts of data.
The insights generated from this master’s thesis provide a systematic overview
of EMA practices in the Norwegian construction industry while also identifying
challenges that need to be addressed to achieve more efficient and comprehensive
reporting in line with CSRD and ESRS. | |
