Shona Russell

Sustainability professionals play a critical role in enabling governments to meet their commitments to net zero and the Paris Agreement. As such, this paper explores how coaching psychology, an evidence-based approach integrating psychological theory with coaching practice, can support sustainability professionals to be more effective change makers. Drawing on interviews with 28 sustainability professionals, we found five key challenges: imposter syndrome, career progression, eco-anxiety, internal greenwashing and loneliness. These challenges highlight areas where psychologically-informed coaching interventions could enhance individual coping, goal attainment, and resilience. Participants reported limited experience with collective support mechanisms, such as climate cafés and group coaching, despite expressing strong interest in these approaches. We examine the potential benefits and ethical tensions of group coaching from a coaching psychological perspective, including (1) the risk of individuals with high eco-anxiety seeking coaching instead of clinical support; (2) the possibility that participants may feel ‘lost’ in a group format; and (3) the limits of encouraging an individual to improve their emotional regulation when addressing systemic, complex problems. We argue that group coaching could be valuable because it provides a space to process the ‘unfolding tragedy’ of climate change, biodiversity loss and social inequalities with others that often feel isolated through doing the work they do. Coaches that are highly-engaged with sustainability issues can therefore support sustainability professionals through goal-setting and emotional regulation techniques to navigate unrealistic expectations, lack of resources, and internal greenwashing. This paper situates these findings within the broader evidence base of coaching psychology, demonstrating how theoretically-informed group coaching can provide meaningful, ethically-responsible support for sustainability professionals.

In this concluding chapter to the Handbook of Accounting in Society, we reflect on the collective effort of the contributors. Taken together, our contributions present a manifestation of accounting realism, a concern with how and where accounting actually takes place in society. As we explore the diverse ways in which accounting shapes organizations and institutions, and is shaped by them in turn, we encounter diverse forms of accounting and a diversity of accountants. Among the accountants, professionally trained and accredited practitioners seem all but outweighed by accounting practitioners who arrive at their accountings as activists, scientists, nurses, doctors, or carers, or in their humble role es taxpayers. This diversity of accountants, their accounts and accountings offers a basis for reforming the accounting profession, for redeveloping accounting education, and for leveraging accounting for the common good - for changing accounting in society into an accounting for society.

This chapter aims at crafting the likely foundations for accounting scholarship to place socio-ecological thinking at the heart of research, education, and engagement. By taking a systems approach to conceptualising the domain of concern, we describe how living in the Anthropocene dictates the need for research of a different type. In particular we outline how a sustainability science approach will lead to different accounting interventions being designed. We then develop three pre-dispositions that will need to be fostered to support a socio-ecological research tradition, namely: decentring individualised and instrumental academic identities; deepening empathy for action; and integrating capabilities of flourishing into accounting scholarship. Overall, the chapter calls for future scholarship to be attuned to the foundations of socio-ecological system in the Anthropocene and identifies dispositions and conceptual tools to enable scholars to undertake research, education and engagement that are fit for purpose given the socio-ecological challenges faced by global society.

Philanthrocapitalism—the strategic application of market methods and motives for philanthropic purposes—plays increasingly prominent roles in policy design and implementation at national and international levels. Notwithstanding philanthrocapitalism's growing significance, relevant scholarly discourse remains limited and fragmented. Drawing together diverse debates, our paper systematically reviews and synthesizes academic literature on philanthrocapitalism. Alongside raising questions about the casting and practice of philanthropy, the 186 relevant publications included in our review indicate a strong emphasis of philanthrocapitalism in the areas of education, international development, healthcare and agriculture. Across these, we identify and discuss the importance of three cultural frames: (1) development challenges being framed as scientific problems; (2) beneficiaries being framed as productive entrepreneurs; and (3) philanthropy being framed as social investment. Outlining and critically examining these issues, this work contributes: a comprehensive analysis of key debates and issues; strengthened conceptual clarity and nuance through an evaluative exploration of the multiple interpretations of philanthrocapitalism; and a future research agenda to address persisting knowledge gaps and refine focus.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to interrogate the nature and relevance of debates around the existence of, and ramifications arising from, the Anthropocene for accounting scholarship. Design/methodology/approach: The paper’s aim is achieved through an in-depth analysis of the Anthropocene, paying attention to cross-disciplinary contributions, interpretations and contestations. Possible points of connection between the Anthropocene and accounting scholarship are then proposed and illuminated through a case study drawn from the seafood sector. Findings: This paper develops findings in two areas. First, possible pathways for further development of how accounting scholarship might evolve by the provocation that thinking about the Anthropocene is outlined. Second, and through engagement with the case study, the authors highlight that the concept of stewardship may re-emerge in discussions about accountability in the Anthropocene. Research limitations/implications: The paper argues that accounting scholarship focused on social, environmental and sustainability concerns may be further developed by engagement with Anthropocene debates. Practical implications: While accounting practice might have to change to deal with Anthropocene induced effects, this paper focuses on implications for accounting scholarship. Social implications: Human well-being is likely to be impacted if environmental impacts accelerate. In addition, an Anthropocene framing alters the understanding of nature–human interactions and how this affects accounting thought. Originality/value: This is the first paper in accounting to seek to establish connections between accounting, accountability and the Anthropocene.

Article impact statement : New collaborations with accounting research can improve conservation impact of ecosystem‐based information systems.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to review and synthesise academic research in environmental accounting and demonstrate its shortcomings. It provokes scholars to rethink their conceptions of “accounts” and “nature”, and alongside others in thisAAAJspecial issue, provides the basis for an agenda for theoretical and empirical research that begins to “ecologise” accounting.Design/methodology/approach: Utilising a wide range of thought from accounting, geography, sociology, political ecology, nature writing and social activism, the paper provides an analysis and critique of key themes associated with 40 years research in environmental accounting. It then considers how that broad base of work in social science, particularly pragmatic sociology (e.g. Latour, Boltanksi and Thévenot), could contribute to reimagining an ecologically informed accounting.Findings: Environmental accounting research overwhelmingly focuses on economic entities and their inputs and outputs. Conceptually, an “information throughput” model dominates. There is little or no environment in environmental accounting, and certainly no ecology. The papers in thisAAAJspecial issue contribute to these themes, and alongside social science literature, indicate significant opportunities for research to begin to overcome them.Research limitations/implications: This paper outlines and encourages the advancement of ecological accounts and accountabilities drawing on conceptual resources across social sciences, arts and humanities. It identifies areas for research to develop its interdisciplinary potential to contribute to ecological sustainability and social justice.Originality/value: How to “ecologise” accounting and conceptualise human and non-human entities has received little attention in accounting research. This paper andAAAJspecial issue provides empirical, practical and theoretical material to advance further work.