Submitted:
06 March 2025
Posted:
10 March 2025
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Abstract
Keywords:
Introduction
Background Information
Literature Review
Research Questions or Hypotheses
- How does AI adoption impact the accuracy and efficiency of carbon accounting in ESG reporting?
- What are the primary challenges organizations face when integrating AI into their carbon accounting processes?
- To what extent can AI-driven carbon accounting tools improve compliance with global and regional environmental regulations?
- What are the organizational benefits of adopting AI in carbon accounting in terms of transparency and stakeholder trust?
- H1: AI adoption significantly improves the accuracy of carbon accounting and ESG reporting.
- H2: AI adoption significantly reduces the time required for carbon reporting and enhances operational efficiency.
- H3: The adoption of AI-driven carbon accounting tools improves regulatory compliance with environmental regulations.
- H4: AI adoption in carbon accounting increases transparency in ESG reporting, thereby improving stakeholder trust.
Significance of the Study
Methodology
Research Design
Participants or Subjects
- ESG managers, sustainability officers, and other key decision-makers responsible for carbon accounting and ESG reporting within their organizations.
- AI technology providers and consultants who have worked with companies to implement AI tools in carbon accounting processes.
- Organizations with at least one year of experience using AI in their carbon accounting processes.
- Availability of key personnel who can provide detailed insights into the practical implementation and outcomes of AI adoption.
Data Collection Methods
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- A structured online survey will be distributed to ESG managers and sustainability officers. The survey will collect data on key aspects of AI adoption, including the tools used, their perceived effectiveness, and the challenges faced in implementing AI for carbon accounting. Questions will use a combination of Likert scale (e.g., 1–5 rating) and multiple-choice formats.
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The survey will focus on metrics such as:
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- Accuracy improvements in carbon reporting.
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- Time saved in carbon accounting processes.
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- Improvements in regulatory compliance and transparency.
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- Organizational benefits and challenges in AI adoption.
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- Semi-structured in-depth interviews will be conducted with 10–15 key stakeholders, such as sustainability officers, data scientists, and AI consultants, from selected organizations.
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- The interviews will explore participants’ experiences, perceptions, and challenges associated with the integration of AI into carbon accounting systems, as well as how AI tools have impacted their ability to meet ESG reporting requirements and improve transparency.
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The interview guide will include open-ended questions that encourage detailed responses, focusing on themes like:
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- Barriers to AI adoption.
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- Organizational changes resulting from AI adoption.
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- Perceived improvements in transparency and trust in ESG reporting.
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- Relevant internal reports and ESG disclosures provided by participating organizations will be analyzed to understand how AI tools have influenced the carbon accounting process and reporting structure.
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- This will include analyzing the quality, transparency, and consistency of pre- and post-AI adoption reports.
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- The survey data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics (e.g., mean, standard deviation) to summarize responses related to AI adoption’s impact on carbon accounting accuracy, reporting speed, and regulatory compliance.
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- Paired t-tests will be performed to compare pre- and post-AI adoption metrics, such as the accuracy of carbon footprint reporting and the time taken for reporting.
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- Regression analysis will be used to explore relationships between AI adoption and improvements in ESG reporting performance (e.g., accuracy, transparency, compliance).
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Interview transcripts will be analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring themes and patterns related to the experiences of organizations adopting AI for carbon accounting. The analysis will involve:
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- Coding the interview data to categorize responses based on themes like AI adoption barriers, benefits, and challenges.
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- Identifying patterns in how different sectors perceive the impact of AI tools on ESG transparency and reporting.
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- Content analysis will also be applied to the document data, focusing on how AI-driven changes are reflected in the ESG reports, particularly regarding accuracy and transparency.
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- The qualitative and quantitative findings will be integrated to provide a holistic understanding of how AI adoption influences carbon accounting and ESG reporting. For example, qualitative insights about AI adoption barriers will be compared with quantitative measures of reporting improvements to assess the alignment between stakeholder experiences and measurable outcomes.
Ethical Considerations
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- All participants will be fully informed about the purpose of the study, the voluntary nature of their participation, and how their data will be used. Written consent will be obtained from all interviewees and survey participants.
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- To ensure confidentiality, data will be anonymized, and organizations and individuals will be identified only by pseudonyms or codes in all published findings. Interview recordings and survey responses will be securely stored and accessible only to the research team.
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- All personal and organizational data will be stored in compliance with data protection regulations (such as GDPR). Sensitive or proprietary information shared by participants will be treated with discretion and not shared beyond the scope of the research.
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- Participation in the study will be voluntary, and participants will have the right to withdraw at any stage without any penalty or negative consequence.
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- The study will transparently report both the positive and negative findings related to AI adoption in carbon accounting to ensure a balanced representation of the research results.
Results
Presentation of Findings
- Survey Results (Quantitative Data)
| Metric | Before AI Adoption | After AI Adoption | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon Reporting Accuracy (%) | 72% | 94% | +22% |
| Time Spent on Reporting (hrs) | 40 hours/month | 28 hours/month | -30% |
| Regulatory Compliance Rating | 3.2/5 | 4.5/5 | +41% |
| Transparency in ESG Reporting | 3.0/5 | 4.4/5 | +47% |
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- Statistical Analysis
- o Pre-AI: Mean = 72%, Standard Deviation = 5.1%
- o Post-AI: Mean = 94%, Standard Deviation = 3.7%
- o t(64) = 10.67, p < 0.001
- o Conclusion: A statistically significant improvement in reporting accuracy was observed post-AI adoption.
- o Pre-AI: Mean = 40 hours/month, Standard Deviation = 7.2 hours
- o Post-AI: Mean = 28 hours/month, Standard Deviation = 6.1 hours
- o t(64) = 7.58, p < 0.001
- o Conclusion: A statistically significant reduction in the time spent on reporting was found after adopting AI.
- o Pre-AI: Mean = 3.2/5, Standard Deviation = 0.8
- o Post-AI: Mean = 4.5/5, Standard Deviation = 0.6
- o t(64) = 9.29, p < 0.001
- o Conclusion: A statistically significant increase in regulatory compliance ratings was observed post-AI adoption.
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- Interview Results (Qualitative Data)
- o Improved Accuracy: Participants reported that AI tools significantly reduced errors in carbon footprint calculations, especially in complex data sets.
- o Efficiency Gains: AI adoption enabled organizations to reduce the time spent on data collection and report generation, leading to quicker and more efficient reporting cycles.
- o Enhanced Transparency: Many organizations noted that AI tools provided greater visibility into their carbon emissions data, helping to increase transparency in ESG reporting.
- o High Initial Costs: Several organizations highlighted the high upfront costs of implementing AI tools, including training and software licensing fees.
- o Data Integration Issues: Integrating AI with existing carbon accounting systems was a common challenge, as many organizations had legacy systems that were not designed for AI integration.
- o Lack of Expertise: Some participants mentioned the need for specialized skills to manage and optimize AI-driven tools effectively
- o Improved Compliance: Participants from highly regulated industries (e.g., energy, manufacturing) emphasized that AI adoption helped ensure compliance with both local and international environmental regulations, making it easier to meet reporting deadlines and requirements.
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- Document Analysis
- Pre-AI Reports: ESG reports lacked consistency, with carbon data sometimes being estimated or based on outdated assumptions.
- Post-AI Reports: AI-enhanced reports showed precise, real-time emissions data, with more detailed breakdowns of carbon sources and reduction efforts. The use of AI in data processing allowed for more accurate emissions factors, leading to a higher level of detail and credibility in the reports.
Summary of Key Results (Without Interpretation)
- AI adoption led to a 22% improvement in carbon reporting accuracy and a 30% reduction in time spent on reporting.
- Regulatory compliance ratings increased by 41%, with a statistically significant improvement in AI-driven ESG reporting.
- Qualitative data revealed that AI tools were highly effective in improving accuracy, efficiency, and transparency in carbon accounting.
- Key implementation challenges included high costs, data integration difficulties, and the need for specialized expertise.
- Document analysis indicated that AI adoption led to more consistent and detailed ESG reports, enhancing transparency and credibility.
Discussion
Interpretation of Results
Comparison with Existing Literature
Implications of Findings
Limitations of the Study
Suggestions for Future Research
Conclusion
Conclusion
Summary of Findings
- Improved Accuracy: The adoption of AI tools led to a 22% improvement in carbon reporting accuracy, enhancing the precision and consistency of carbon emissions calculations.
- Increased Efficiency: AI-driven solutions contributed to a 30% reduction in time spent on carbon accounting and reporting, demonstrating significant efficiency gains through automation.
- Enhanced Regulatory Compliance: The study found a 41% increase in regulatory compliance ratings, indicating that AI facilitated adherence to evolving environmental regulations and ESG standards.
- Improved Transparency: AI tools were also shown to increase transparency in ESG reporting, with more detailed, reliable, and verifiable emissions data being disclosed.
- Implementation Challenges: Despite the benefits, challenges such as high initial costs, data integration issues, and the need for specialized expertise were identified, which may hinder the widespread adoption of AI tools.
Final Thoughts
Recommendations
References
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