Sustainability, ESG Reporting, and Audit Accountability in Emerging Markets
Keywords:
ESG Disclosure, Audit Accountability, Sustainability Assurance, Emerging Markets, Ethical FinanceAbstract
This study examines how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure practices are redefining audit accountability in emerging and developed economies. Using a comparative, TCCM-based methodological framework, it analyses secondary data from African and European financial institutions to evaluate how sustainability metrics influence assurance procedures, governance mechanisms, and stakeholder trust. The findings reveal that European markets exhibit strong ESG–audit integration driven by regulatory enforcement under frameworks such as the CSRD, while African markets demonstrate gradual but adaptive adoption shaped by voluntary and institutional dynamics. Results from Figures 2 and 3 show that rigorous ESG assurance correlates positively with investor confidence, reputational capital, and financial resilience. The study proposes an integrated ESG–audit framework that aligns financial and non-financial verification processes, thereby reinforcing transparency, ethical finance, and sustainable corporate governance. Policy recommendations include harmonising global assurance standards, strengthening audit capacity in emerging markets, and embedding sustainability ethics into audit education and regulation.
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