In recent years, investors, creditors, governments, and the public have demanded more information from companies about climate change.

Required:

1. Why have investors and creditors become interested in business activities related to climate change?

2. Which organizations have issued the primary reporting guidelines for sustainability accounting?

3. In the United States, under what conditions would companies be required to discuss the effects of climate change?

4. In the United States, most sustainability reporting is voluntary. Why would companies voluntarily go to the trouble of providing information on the environment?

5. A research study suggests that company carbon emissions are negatively correlated with company share price. Why would the level of carbon emissions affect investor perceptions of companies?