Carbon certificates in the structure of an enterprise's assets: accounting aspects and recognition in financial statements

Abstract

The article examines the economic nature of carbon certificates and their role in a company's asset structure from the perspectives of management and accounting approaches. It is determined that carbon certificates are a specific type of asset that combines environmental, economic, and financial components, and their legal recognition is a necessary condition for integrating Ukraine into the international market for trading greenhouse gas emissions. It is substantiated that the absence of regulatory frameworks for accounting operations with carbon certificates leads to distortions in financial reporting, prevents the assessment of their fair value, and reduces the potential of enterprises to obtain additional income. The economic nature of carbon certificates and the criteria for recognizing them as assets are defined. Depending on their intended purpose, possible approaches to their classification (as intangible assets, financial assets, or inventories) are revealed. Methodological approaches for their initial and subsequent valuation, taking into account market fluctuations and usage specifics, have been developed to provide a realistic assessment of the economic potential of enterprises. Methodological approaches to accounting and valuation of carbon certificates, considering their intended use and market conditions, are proposed, allowing their integration into enterprises' financial and non-financial reporting. It is argued that the inclusion of carbon certificates in financial and integrated reporting will enable enterprises to combine economic and environmental goals, increase the transparency of management decisions, and enhance the international reputation of Ukrainian business. It is emphasized that integrating such assets into corporate management strategies will contribute to increasing the investment attractiveness of enterprises, as it will allow investors to evaluate not only the financial performance of enterprises but also indicators of environmentally responsible business practices. The practical significance of the research results lies in forming a conceptual basis for utilizing carbon certificates as an asset that can enhance enterprises' economic and environmental value, thereby contributing to the strengthening of their competitive positions.