הפוליטיקה של חובת דיווח על ביצועים סביבתיים

Reporting serves as a fundamental instrument in establishing regulatory frameworks broadly and in environmental governance specifically. Variations in reporting regimes are evident across criteria such as who reports, reporting recipients, content scope, timing, verification processes, and sanctions for non-compliance. These diverse designs mirror different types of public and self-regulatory approaches. This article aims to explore, conceptualize, and analyze the rise of reporting as a pivotal tool for regulatory governance within the European Union (EU). The discussion is structured around three core research questions: First, what are the key policy developments shaping the global landscape of sustainability reporting from the 1970s to today? Second, what are the defining features of the sustainability reporting regulatory regime that has emerged in the EU? Third, what factors have driven the transition from self-regulation to enforced self-regulation, and subsequently to enhanced self-regulation, within the EU’s sustainability reporting framework? We identify three significant phases in the evolution of the global reporting regime. Since the 1990s, the EU has taken a leading role in standardizing reporting requirements by shifting from voluntary to mandatory reporting and introducing third-party verification measures. These developments signify a shift from voluntary self-regulation towards enforced and ultimately enhanced self-regulation. We interpret this regime evolution as a response to the limitations of voluntary sustainability reporting, the strategic organization of “green” stakeholders, and the alignment of European corporate interests with sustainable financial investments. The central argument of this article is that the design of the sustainable reporting regime encapsulates a broader institutionalization process of reporting regimes, progressing toward increased self-regulation. The primary contribution of this work lies in the conceptualization of various self-regulatory regimes and their evolutionary pathways over time.