Sustainability accounting research over three decades: A scientometric meta‐analysis

Abstract

AbstractAs organizations worldwide face increasing pressure to integrate sustainability into their core principles, the need for robust sustainability accounting practices has never been more crucial. This study takes on the challenge by mapping out the intellectual structure of sustainability accounting research domain. Using a mix of scientometric analysis of 1702 articles and in‐depth content analysis of 122 key works spanning more than 30 years from 1991 to 2024, the study unveils the past, present, and future of this vital field. Intricate domain visualizations were created utilizing CiteSpace software revealing networks of co‐authorship, keywords, subject categories, institutions, and countries committed to research on sustainability accounting, including co‐citation and cluster analysis. Results revealed research production concentrated in developed nations, highlighting the urgency for increased focus on this topic within developing and emerging countries. The network structure indicated a scarcity of global collaboration particularly at the company level. The central themes of sustainability accounting, identified through cluster analysis and examination of highly co‐cited documents, encompass sustainability management accounting, life cycle assessment, carbon accounting, national accounts, climate policy, and ecosystem accounting, playing a significant role in shaping its landscape and ongoing evolution. Six relevant emerging themes were identified from in‐depth content analysis of recent literature in the management domain, comprising the role of accountants in mitigating climate risk, rethinking accounting for planetary boundaries, biodiversity loss and extinction accounting, sustainability assurance, technological advancements, and other miscellaneous themes. This study carries significant implications for a diverse array of stakeholders, including policymakers, organizations, society, and academics.