Introduction to sustainability accounting and accountability

Abstract

In what kind of world do you want your children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren to live? Do you want them to live in a world characterized by social harmony and social justice? Or would you be happy for them to live in a world riven by social conflict, where ‘justice’ is only available to a few powerful and privileged members of society – with no guarantees that your descendants would be among this privileged elite? Do you want them to live in a world which has an ecological balance capable of sustaining the lives of all its inhabitants at reasonable levels of comfort? Or would you be satisfied for them to live in a world where the ecosphere had been damaged to the extent that life for all but a small privileged elite is lived at the margins of existence, where weather patterns have become so extreme that severe storms regularly kill many people, the supply of food and water is highly erratic, and many species of plants, animals and insects have become extinct? Do you want them to live in an economically prosperous world? Or would you be satisfied for them to live in a world where the economy had failed and they were therefore unable to enjoy the material benefits of economic success?

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