The Impact of Climate Change Risk Disclosure According To IFRS:S2 In Company’s Value and its Reflection on Investors’ Decisions

Master’s thesis submitted to

The Council of the College of Administration and Economics – University of Karbala, which is part of the requirements for obtaining a master’s degree in Accounting

Submitted by

Muntadher Muhammed Ali Mohsen Al-masoudi

Supervised by

Assis.Prof.Dr. Amal Muhammed Salman Al-Tamimi

Abstract: This research aims to determine the extent to which disclosure of climate change risks affects on investors’ decisions in the presence of the mediating variable which is company value. The importance of scientific research is that disclosing these risks helps increase investors’ confidence in financial reports, as well as helping to know the effects of these risks on the company’s financial position. To achieve this goal; The researcher sent an electronic questionnaire (Google Form) to a sample consisting of academics, accountants, auditors, certified public accountants, auditors, financial managers and audit managers at the University of Karbala, the University of warith al-Anbiya, Al-Zahraa University, accounting offices and some Iraqi companies listed in the Iraqi market for securities. The electronically retrieved questionnaires amounted to (155) valid questionnaires for analysis. A set of statistical methods were relied upon to achieve the research goal and reach the desired results. Including: analyzing the demographic data of the questionnaire sample and descriptive analysis of it using Excel. Also, a simple regression model using the statistical program SPSS V.26 to test the conditions of the simple mediation model. In addition, structural equation modeling (simple mediation model) using the statistical program JASPER V.0.18.3 to test the effect of the mediating variable (company value) on the dependent variable (investors’ decisions) in the presence of the independent variable (disclosure of climate change risks according to the standard (IFRS:S2 ).In light of the results obtained, the researcher recommends that all companies apply the climate change risk disclosure standard (IFRS:S2) because of its role in giving investors confidence in financial reports. Today, investors are looking for companies that apply international sustainability standards (reporting non-financial information) in addition to reporting financial information. Investors also seek to maximize their wealth, which comes primarily from maximizing the value of the company. Therefore, including such disclosures in financial reports is an effective way to increase investors’ confidence in those reports and make rational decisions with high returns versus low risks.