Degree of Impact of Applying Environmental Cost Accounting on Tax Revenues from Oil Companies Operating in Iraq

Abstract

Protecting the environment and its natural resources is an issue of great importance at the local and global levels. The phenomenon of environmental pollution resulting from the work of oil companies is one of the dangerous phenomena facing the environment in Iraq in general, and the environment of Kirkuk Governorate in particular, as the latter is considered one of the governorates rich in mineral resources, especially oil, as it contains six oil fields, and it contains the largest oil field in Iraq. Estimates indicate that it produces (40%) of the total Iraqi oil, so it suffers from a significant increase in the proportions of toxic and environmentally polluting gases resulting from the work of these companies in it. The work of oil companies from exploration, extraction and refining oil will naturally result in the emission of many gases that are highly toxic, dangerous and harmful to human health. The most important of these gases are carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbon compounds, hydrogen sulfide and other gases that pollute the environment, which has resulted in the spread and increase in the number of patients with respiratory diseases in a clear and increasing manner in the governorate. This increase in environmental costs falls on society as a whole, so it was necessary to identify and measure environmental costs from the society’s point of view and work to re-charge them to oil companies by applying the environmental tax.