Environmental accounting

SUMMARY It has been anticipated that in the 2000's, one of the most important developments in the accounting practices will be within the field of environmental accounting. In the countries that have embarked upon the process of globalization, as the problems, that have emerged as a result of economic, social and technological developments, have increasingly become threatening the world future, environmental phenomenon took its place on the agenda of humanity though with delay and promptly resulted with the placement of environmental conciseness. Within the scope of these developments, traditional development models are re-examined and new development views and alternative economic approaches that take environmental factors into consideration are being developed. Apart from these developments, the concept of environmental accounting has emerged as international accounting practices, particularly cost and management accounting system and techniques became necessities for the environment as well. As a matter of fact, the fundamental aim of environmental accounting, with respect to either macro or micro perspectives, is the integration of environmental issues to the accounting system. It has been aimed to contribute to the prevention of environmental problems by anticipating environmental information within the accounting system or expanding the accounting to contain these information so that giving the priority to the environment in economic activities. XV