New EU sustainability reporting rules expose corporate accountability gaps
Original framing: “Sustainability reporting no longer shields companies from criticism” — Phys.org
In many non-Western cultures, sustainability is not a corporate reporting metric but a lived practice embedded in community and spiritual values. For example, in Māori environmental governance, sustainability is understood through the concept of kaitiakitanga, which emphasizes guardianship and intergenerational responsibility.
The current shift in sustainability reporting is revealing the limitations of corporate accountability frameworks that rely on self-assessment and compliance.
By integrating Indigenous knowledge, strengthening civil society oversight, and adopting systems-based reporting models, we can move toward a more equitable and effective approach to environmental governance. This requires not only policy reform but a cultural shift in how we understand sustainability as a relational and interdependent practice. Historical parallels and cross-cultural insights show that accountability must be rooted in community and ecological responsibility, not just corporate metrics. The future of sustainability reporting lies in transparency, inclusivity, and systemic thinking that prioritizes the well-being of both people and the planet.