Research on the Influencing Factors of Carbon Assurance Disclosure Quality from The Perspective of External Audit Quality

Abstract

To realize the goal of "carbon neutral", enterprises need to carry out the CDP carbon disclosure project and the independent audit carbon assurance under pressure from carbon regulation. Therefore, based on the external audit quality perspective, this paper examines the factors influencing the quality of carbon assurance that are important for the development of carbon assurance market business. Firstly, 58 listed companies with heavy carbon emissions in China are selected as the research objects, and the evaluation index system for DRS companies' carbon guarantee is established. Then, considering the volatility and conflicting properties of the indicators, we use the combination of weighting entropy and the CRITIC method, measuring the driving factor, response factor, and status factor of carbon assurance quality through the TOPSIS method. Moreover, this article establishes a weighted linear regression model to explore the premise of state-owned equity and the degree of portfolio leverage as control variables. Audit quality is significantly and positively correlated with carbon assurance. In addition, State ownership and DCL are positively and negatively correlated with carbon assurance quality, respectively. Finally, this paper puts forward relevant suggestions for accounting firms to develop a perfect carbon assurance process and improve the quality of carbon assurance.