Abstract
Within the context of social, environmental, and governance concerns, sustainability reporting is becoming a critical practice for organizations. In this chapter, the evolution, importance, and challenges of sustainability reporting are explored. The role of transparency and technological innovations such as blockchain in the enhancement of reliability of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures is discussed and deemphasized. This study outlines new frameworks and standards, such as the United Nations Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), that can help organizations in their reporting. Complexities involved across various industries and diverse stakeholders’ perspectives, particularly those of Indigenous communities, are highlighted. An Indigenous case study, Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project (TMX), is examined to explore and illustrate the potential for blockchain technology to address accountability and transparency challenges in sustainability reporting. The study’s findings reveal and suggest that incorporating Indigenous knowledge and leveraging blockchain technology can significantly improve the credibility and accuracy of sustainability reports. This fosters greater trust among the stakeholders and can contribute to effective environmental and social governance.