Análise da Transparência Corporativa através dos Relatórios de Sustentabilidade com base na Global Reporting Initiative de Empresas do Setor Brasileiro de Energia Elétrica

Abstract

This study undertook a critical examination on the sustainability reports, based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), prepared by companies in the sector of electric power generation by hydropower in Brazil and assessed the significance of these documents provide clear information on the effectiveness of the social and environmental performance. Academic studies relating to sustainability reports, and specifically with the GRI reports, show that there are problems in the quality of information regarding the completeness, standardization and credibility of the content, but without deepening the potential causes. This is a study with qualiquantitative approach, with the use of descriptive research and use of bibliographic and documentary procedures, through content analysis. The quantification of the evidence was developed on the basis of the information contained in the sustainability reports of CPFL, EDP and Tractebel, which had the highest level of application of GRI, associated with the socio-environmental performance information available in other independent reference sources. The results of the content analysis of sustainability reports have shown that none of the companies has reached the full service of evidence of information requested in the Information evaluated. This finding indicates that all companies assessed failed validation of the information before the start of the preparation of the report itself, as determines the validation step of GRI, suggesting that the tests available in the GRI principles probably were not employed or have been adopted without effectiveness, affecting the quality of information regarding the completeness and credibility of the content. Issues that deserve to be deepened in futures studies are: the influence of the limits of independent audit on the result of the verification of the report and the extent of content analysis research for others industrial sectors formed by large companies with potential high environmental impact. The study contributes to the increase of knowledge on the subject, highlighted today, either by the world standardization efforts of GRI sustainability report, and, mainly, with the recommendation for the promotion of these reports included in the final document "The Future We Want" of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio + 20), paragraph 47, with potential brazilian regulations compulsory.