Accounting for sustainability: water and climate
This PhD-level course examines how organisations account for sustainability amid escalating water and climate challenges.
This PhD course includes several interactive workshops that provide participants the opportunity to engage in discussions of research papers presented by experienced accounting scholars from Copenhagen Business School (external link) (CBS) and Nanyang Technological University Singapore (external link) (NTU). There will also a guest lecture by Associate Professor Mercedes Luque Vílchez (external link) from the Universidad de Córdoba (external link).
In addition, a representative from Equinor (external link), the global energy company, will share insights from their journey in sustainability reporting. The remaining sessions are designed to support participants in further developing their PhD research toward impactful publications.
The escalating climate and water crises demand urgent and informed responses from organisations. This PhD-level course provides a comprehensive introduction to the theoretical foundations, regulatory frameworks, and practical approaches to accounting for sustainability, with a particular focus on water and climate-related challenges.
Participants will explore how sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks shape corporate accountability, and how organisations integrate water and climate considerations into their reporting.
The course draws on current European regulatory developments, such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (external link) (CSRD) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), using climate change, water and marine resource disclosures as illustrative examples.
Learning outcomes
This PhD-level course examines sustainability accounting in the context of escalating water and climate challenges. This year’s course will engage participants through several interactive elements:
- workshop discussions of near-submission research papers (at least one),
- dedicated sessions with major industry partners to learn from their sustainability journeys (at least one), and
- a session with journal editors aimed at helping PhD students craft strong research proposals.
Participants will then gain a comprehensive introduction to the theoretical foundations, regulatory frameworks, and practical approaches used to address sustainability challenges in organisational reporting.
The course explores how sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks shape corporate accountability, and how water and climate considerations are integrated into reporting practices.
Emphasis is placed on current European regulatory developments, including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), using climate change and water disclosures as illustrative examples.
Literature list
TBA
Credits
Participation at the BSRS is credited under the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Participants submitting an essay, in a form of a publishable manuscript of 10-20 pages, after the end of the summer school will receive 10 ECTS. Deadline for submission will be decided by your course leader.
It is also possible to participate without producing an essay. This will give you 5 ECTS. In order to receive credits, we expect full participation in the course-specific modules, plenary events and roundtables.
Course leader
Carmen Olsen (external link)
Associate professor
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
Dr. Carmen Olsen’s teaching and research span accounting, auditing, and sustainability. Before completing her Master’s in Accounting and Auditing (MRR) and PhD in Auditing at the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH), she worked as an auditor and consultant.
Olsen has published in journals such as the Journal of International Accounting Research and the Journal of Accounting Literature, and is the author of two books—on accounting information systems and sustainability reporting, and on auditors’ professional skepticism.
She is also an editor of a forthcoming Routledge volume on artificial intelligence in sustainability accounting and assurance, and serves on the organising committee for the European Financial Management Association’s (EFMA) 2026 Annual Meetings at the University of Agder, Kristiansand.