“Embracing sustainability for a brighter future.”

TLDR:

Key Points:

• Sustainability accounting is an emerging subset of accounting that examines corporate impacts on societal and environmental factors.
• Washington and Lee University Associate Professor of Accounting Megan Hess ’97 teaches a popular Spring Term course on Sustainability Accounting, examining various reporting standards and techniques used in sustainability.

The article discusses the growing importance of sustainability accounting in the corporate world, as companies are now required to report environmental and social impacts alongside their financial statements. This emerging field offers career opportunities for students interested in working with corporations on their ESG disclosures. Megan Hess ’97, an associate professor of accounting at Washington and Lee University, teaches a popular Spring Term course on Sustainability Accounting, which attracts students from various majors and levels. The course covers topics such as corporate social responsibility, non-financial disclosures, and sustainability performance analysis. Students engage in real-world case studies, field trips to local businesses, and discussions on sustainability practices. The university itself is taking significant steps towards carbon neutrality by 2050, including a move to solar energy and transitioning to low-temperature hot water heating. Overall, the article highlights the importance of sustainability accounting in addressing pressing environmental issues and holding corporations accountable for their impacts.