Mapping accounting literature on climate finance: Identifying research gaps and reflections on future research

Purpose: This study investigates climate finance literature to understand whether and how
research in this area is explored from an accounting perspective.
Design/Methodology/Approach: This study conducts a meta-analysis and narrative review
of climate finance.

Findings: The issue of climate finance has received increasing attention in recent years
because of international negotiations on climate change. The volume of the literature
examining climate finance has grown, particularly from a finance perspective. The literature
analysed is diverse, employing unique methodological and theoretical differences, providing
insights into the effectiveness of policies and impact of climate finance on capital markets,
economic growth, and the green economy. However, despite growing concerns regarding the
accounting and reporting issues in climate finance, little attention has been paid to this topic
from an accounting, accountability, audit, or corporate disclosure perspective.

Originality: This study contributes to climate finance research by integrating insights from a
dispersed and emerging body of literature by conducting meta-analysis and narrative review.
Meta-analysis enables us to map the development of this specific literature and how it has
changed over the years, whereas narrative review serves as a basis for identifying research
gaps and developing avenues for future research in accounting, accountability, audit, and
corporate disclosure.