Environmental disclosure: Mitigation and adaptation using ESG statistics from Latin American public companies

Abstract

Governments and organizations encourage companies to measure and report their environmental impact. In Latin America, a standardized framework for companies to disclose their environmental information has not yet been established. This article aims to investigate changes in CO2 emission intensity and water usage, as well as the effect of corporate actions related to environmental mitigation and adaptation. To this end, we created two indices—one for adaptation and another for mitigation—using data from 672 publicly listed companies across six Latin American countries from 2017 to 2023. The analysis was conducted using a structural equation model to measure the effects on company value, water usage intensity, and CO2 emissions in relation to sales. The findings indicate that reported mitigation actions were effective in reducing companies' CO2 intensity. However, no evidence was found that adaptation actions reduced water usage. The results were based on data from one-third of the listed companies that disclose their environmental information. This group has invested the equivalent of 0.70% of their sales in sustainability. Moving forward, addressing climate change will require deeper engagement in new environmental actions and the involvement of a broader range of companies.

Keywords

• Market value
• Climate change
• Information disclosure
• Simultaneous equations
• Emissions intensity