Empirical Research on Factors Influencing Level of Environmental Protection Information Disclosure in Annual Reports by Listed Companies

Abstract

Abstract Taking 248 A-share manufacturing listed companies in 2006 Shanghai Stock Exchange as example, using “index method” to measure level of environmental protection information disclosure, this paper examines the factors influencing level of environmental protection information disclosure. The findings show that the disclosure level has improved, but the overall level is still low and unable to satisfy information users; there is positive correlation between corporate size, industry type, accounting firm’s type and corporate environmental disclosure index. The companies of large scale and heavy pollution and those audited by international “Big 4” and domestic “Big 10” accounting firms have a high level of environmental disclosure, while the profitability and financial leverage has no impact on the disclosure level. Finally some suggestions are put forward to establish environmental information disclosure system in China.