近年來永續意識抬頭，為了讓資訊使用者了解企業的永續相關資訊，法規亦有針對上市櫃公司申報永續報告書的時點進行規範。本研究首先以2019至2022年間共計1,731間有揭露永續報告書之上市上櫃公司作為樣本，並以年度會計結束日到永續報告書發布日間的時間差做為永續報告書發布時間落差的衡量，探討永續報告發布時間落差與各項公司特質、治理當局特質及永續報告書是否交付確信間的關聯性。接著本研究將前述樣本限縮於永續報告書涵蓋期間有揭露碳排資訊者進行測試，於2019年至2022年共計1,561間公司同時有揭露永續報告書及碳排資訊。除前述測試外，本研究於額外測試中進一步以ESG相關變數將樣本進行群並進行迴歸分析以檢視各項ESG特質，如公司是否揭露碳排資訊、碳排放量高低、員工流動率高低與員工平均薪資高低等對於自變數和永續報告發布時間落差間關聯性的影響。
主測試實證結果如下，具有揭露碳排資訊、公司屬敏感性產業、董事長兼任CEO等特性之公司傾向較早發布永續報告書；具永續報告書有交付確信、永續報告書屬自願編制及財務報表發布時間落差較長等特性之公司傾向較晚發布永續報告書。當公司有揭露碳排資訊時，具碳排放量高、員工平均薪資較高、負債比較高及董事長兼任CEO等特性之公司傾向較早發布永續報告書；具永續報告書有交付確信、永續報告書屬自願編制、財務報表發布時間落差較長等特性之公司傾向較晚發布永續報告書。額外測試之結果顯示，具董事會規模較大、財務報表發布時間落差較長等特質之公司傾向較早發布永續報告書，這樣的負向關聯性只存在於未揭露碳排資訊之公司中。

In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on sustainability-related issues. Regulations have been implemented to govern the timing of sustainability report disclosures by TWSE-listed and OTC-listed companies, ensuring effective communication of sustainability-related information. This study explores the relationship between the timing gap in sustainability report publication and company characteristics, corporate governance attributes, and sustainability report assurance.
A sample of 1,731 companies was selected from TWSE and OTC markets based on their disclosure of sustainability reports between 2019 and 2022. The timing gap, measured as the difference between the fiscal closing date and sustainability report publication date, was analyzed with company-specific factors, governance attributes, and report assurance. This study further narrowed the sample to 1,561 companies that disclosed sustainability reports and carbon emission information. Additionally, an additional analysis was conducted, categorizing the sample based on ESG-related variables (such as carbon disclosure, emissions levels, employee turnover, and average salaries) to examine how a company's ESG performance influences the relationship between independent variables and the timing gap in sustainability report publication.
The results of main tests show that companies disclosing carbon emissions, operating in sensitive industries, or with a chairman serving as CEO tend to release sustainability reports earlier. Conversely, companies with report assurance, voluntary preparation, and longer gaps between financial statements and sustainability report publication tend to delay their reports. Among companies disclosing carbon emissions information, those with higher emissions, higher average salaries, higher debt ratios, and a chairman serving as CEO tend to publish reports earlier. However, companies with report assurance, voluntary preparation, and longer gaps delay their sustainability reports. The additional analysis results show that larger board sizes and longer intervals between financial statements and fiscal closing dates are associated with earlier report releases, particularly for companies not disclosing carbon emissions.

2021BCG全球企業碳盤查調查
（New BCG GAMMA Survey Reveals That Only 9% of Organizations Are Able to Measure Their Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions Comprehensively）
2021PWC全球投資人ESG調查報告
（https://www.pwc.tw/zh/publications/global-insights/esg-investor-survey.html）
2022KPMG全球企業永續報告大調查
（https://kpmg.com/tw/zh/home/insights/2022/10/tw-survey-of-sustainability-reporting-2022.html）
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