Accounting for Sustainability in the Airline Industry: Responding to and Mitigating Risks for Sustainable Development Goals

 

Accounting for Sustainability in the Airline Industry: Responding to and Mitigating Risks for Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

The airline industry plays a significant role in global transportation and economic development. However, it also faces various sustainability challenges, including environmental impact, social responsibility, and economic viability. This dissertation aims to explore how accounting for sustainability within the airline industry has responded to and mitigated the risks for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Literature Review

Overview of Sustainability Accounting in the Airline Industry

This section provides an overview of sustainability accounting practices in the airline industry. It explores the evolution of sustainability reporting frameworks, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). It also reviews previous research on sustainability accounting within the airline industry and its impact on SDGs.

Sustainable Development Goals and their Relevance to the Airline Industry

This section examines the United Nations’ SDGs and their relevance to the airline industry. It explores how SDGs, such as climate action, responsible consumption and production, and gender equality, intersect with the challenges faced by airlines. It highlights the importance of aligning accounting practices with SDGs for achieving sustainable development.

Accounting Practices for Environmental Sustainability

This section focuses on accounting practices that address environmental sustainability within the airline industry. It examines carbon accounting and reporting, the use of alternative fuels, and energy efficiency initiatives. It discusses how these practices contribute to SDGs related to climate action and responsible consumption and production.

Accounting Practices for Social Responsibility

This section explores accounting practices that promote social responsibility within the airline industry. It discusses initiatives related to employee well-being, diversity and inclusion, community engagement, and responsible supply chain management. It analyzes how these practices align with SDGs such as decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, and partnerships for the goals.

Accounting Practices for Economic Viability

This section examines accounting practices that ensure economic viability while promoting sustainability within the airline industry. It explores cost management strategies, revenue diversification, and investment in sustainable technologies. It discusses how these practices contribute to SDGs related to sustainable economic growth and innovation.

Methodology

This section outlines the research design employed in this study, including a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. It describes the selection criteria for airline companies included in the analysis and details data collection methods, such as annual reports, sustainability reports, and interviews with industry experts. It also explains the data analysis techniques used to identify trends and patterns in accounting practices.

Findings and Analysis

This section presents the findings from the analysis of accounting practices for sustainability within the airline industry. It discusses how these practices have responded to and mitigated risks for achieving SDGs. It identifies best practices adopted by leading airlines and highlights areas where improvement is needed. The analysis also considers the impact of external factors, such as regulatory frameworks and stakeholder pressures, on accounting practices.

Implications and Recommendations

This section discusses the implications of the findings for the airline industry and sustainable development. It highlights the importance of integrating sustainability into accounting practices for long-term success. It provides recommendations for airlines to enhance their sustainability accounting efforts, including adopting standardized reporting frameworks, setting meaningful targets aligned with SDGs, and engaging stakeholders in decision-making processes.

Conclusion

The conclusion summarizes the key findings of the study, emphasizing the role of accounting for sustainability in responding to and mitigating risks for achieving SDGs within the airline industry. It acknowledges limitations of the research and suggests areas for future exploration. Overall, this dissertation underscores the significance of accounting practices in driving sustainable development within the airline industry and beyond.

References

This section contains a comprehensive list of references used throughout the dissertation, following appropriate citation guidelines.