IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v87y2026ics1544612325021270.html

Impacts of green finance policy on enterprise low-carbon transformation

Author

Listed:
  • Nooseng, Mingkhwan
  • Du, Danli

Abstract

This study examines the causal effect of how China’s green finance reform and innovation pilot zones (GFPZ) policy affects enterprise-level carbon performance. We use a difference-in-differences (DID) approach with panel data of A-share listed enterprises spanning 2009 to 2023. A triple-differences (DDD) model is further introduced to explore the heterogeneous effects based on ownership structure and industry pollution intensity. The results indicate that the GFPZ policy promoted the low-carbon transformation of pilot enterprises, with ESG performance and CSR training serving as partial mediators. In addition, the policy has a stronger promotional effect in state-owned enterprises but are relatively constrained in heavily polluting industries. The study enriches the understanding of how green finance policies drive enterprise-level sustainability transformation.

Suggested Citation

  • Nooseng, Mingkhwan & Du, Danli, 2026. "Impacts of green finance policy on enterprise low-carbon transformation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:87:y:2026:i:c:s1544612325021270
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2025.108874
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612325021270
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2025.108874?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yinjie Zhang & Chunxiang Guo & Liangcheng Wang, 2020. "Supply Chain Strategy Analysis of Low Carbon Subsidy Policies Based on Carbon Trading," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-20, April.
    2. Wang Xiao-jun & Zhang Jian-yun & Amgad Elmahdi & Shamsuddin Shahid & Gao Juan, 2023. "A water resources assessment framework for management strategies of large coal-power bases development in China," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 28(6), pages 1-19, August.
    3. Jafar Hussain & Chien‐Chiang Lee, 2022. "A green path towards sustainable development: Optimal behavior of the duopoly game model with carbon neutrality instruments," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(6), pages 1523-1541, December.
    4. Ren, Zhuoya & Bo, Yuan & Lei, Yuanye, 2025. "Green financial policy, environmental regulation, and energy use efficiency," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    5. Han, Linzhi & Li, Jiawen, 2025. "Does green finance reform promote corporate carbon emission reduction? Evidence from China's green finance reform and innovation pilot zones," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 2091-2111.
    6. Lu, Yuchen & Gao, Yuqiang & Zhang, Yu & Wang, Junrong, 2022. "Can the green finance policy force the green transformation of high-polluting enterprises? A quasi-natural experiment based on “Green Credit Guidelines”," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    7. Zhang, Xiaoke & Zhao, Xuankai & Qu, Linshan, 2021. "Do green policies catalyze green investment? Evidence from ESG investing developments in China," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    8. Liu, Chang & Hong, Tao & Li, Huaifeng & Wang, Lili, 2018. "From club convergence of per capita industrial pollutant emissions to industrial transfer effects: An empirical study across 285 cities in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 300-313.
    9. Fengxue Yin & Yanling Xiao & Rui Cao & Jianhua Zhang, 2023. "Impacts of ESG Disclosure on Corporate Carbon Performance: Empirical Evidence from Listed Companies in Heavy Pollution Industries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-19, October.
    10. Wang, Xiaoyin & Gao, Cuiyun, 2024. "Does green finance policy help to improve carbon reduction welfare performance? Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    11. Haifeng Huang & Jing Zhang, 2021. "Research on the Environmental Effect of Green Finance Policy Based on the Analysis of Pilot Zones for Green Finance Reform and Innovations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-14, March.
    12. Zhao, Meng & Feng, Yuan & Niu, Shuai, 2025. "Promoting corporate social responsibility through green finance legislation," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    13. Patrick Velte, 2021. "Environmental performance, carbon performance and earnings management: Empirical evidence for the European capital market," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(1), pages 42-53, January.
    14. Wang, Chang’an & Liu, Xiaoqian & Li, Han & Yang, Cunyi, 2023. "Analyzing the impact of low-carbon city pilot policy on enterprises' labor demand: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    15. Wen Chen, 2023. "Digital economy development, corporate social responsibility and low‐carbon innovation," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(4), pages 1664-1679, July.
    16. Meng, Sun & Duan, Yunfei & Zhou, Wei, 2025. "How does green finance policy reduce the carbon emissions of polluting enterprises? A mediation effect analysis of inclusive finance," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(PA).
    17. Muhammad Khalid Anser & Zahid Yousaf & Abdul Majid & Muhammad Yasir, 2020. "Does corporate social responsibility commitment and participation predict environmental and social performance?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(6), pages 2578-2587, November.
    18. Zhang, Dongyang, 2023. "Does green finance really inhibit extreme hypocritical ESG risk? A greenwashing perspective exploration," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    19. Card, David & Krueger, Alan B, 1994. "Minimum Wages and Employment: A Case Study of the Fast-Food Industry in New Jersey and Pennsylvania," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 84(4), pages 772-793, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wang, Mingke & Wei, Weixian, 2025. "Modeling the economic and environmental effects of ESG preferences: A general equilibrium approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    2. Da Gao & Xiaotian Zhou & Jing Wan, 2024. "Unlocking sustainability potential: The impact of green finance reform on corporate ESG performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 4211-4226, September.
    3. Xie, Yi & Jiang, Jinwen & Wang, Dong, 2024. "Green finance policy and labor demand: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    4. Ma, Dan & He, Yuhang & Zeng, Linggang, 2024. "Can green finance improve the ESG performance? Evidence from green credit policy in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    5. H. M. N. K. Mudalige, 2023. "Emerging new themes in green finance: a systematic literature review," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-20, December.
    6. Lu, Yuchen & Gao, Yuqiang & Zhang, Yu & Wang, Junrong, 2022. "Can the green finance policy force the green transformation of high-polluting enterprises? A quasi-natural experiment based on “Green Credit Guidelines”," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    7. Khalid, Fahad & Irfan, Muhammad & Srivastava, Mohit, 2024. "The impact of digital inclusive finance on ESG disputes: Evidence from Chinese non-financial listed companies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    8. Liu, Xiaoqian & Cifuentes-Faura, Javier & Wang, Chang'an & Wang, Long, 2025. "Can green finance policy reduce corporate carbon emissions? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 57(5).
    9. Shengyu Xu & Jinqiu Yang & Ruile Li, 2024. "How does green credit guidelines affect environmentally friendly enterprises’ ESG? A quasi-natural experiment from China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(5), pages 1-18, May.
    10. Xiaoqing Li & Jingjing Deng, 2025. "How Green Finance Drives the Synergy of Pollution Reduction and Carbon Mitigation: Evidence from Chinese A-Share Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-21, September.
    11. Cen, Tao, 2023. "Green finance reform and stock price crash risk: Evidence from Chinese heavily polluting companies," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    12. Zhang, Yutian & He, Yu, 2024. "How does the green financial system affect environmentally friendly firms' ESG? Evidence from Chinese stock markets," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    13. Wu, Fei & Hu, Yan & Shen, Me, 2024. "The color of FinTech: FinTech and corporate green transformation in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    14. Xuemeng Zhao & Weilun Huang, 2024. "Global Geopolitical Changes and New/Renewable Energy Game," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-27, August.
    15. Vimal Ranchhod & Arden Finn, 2016. "Estimating the Short Run Effects of South Africa's Employment Tax Incentive on Youth Employment Probabilities using A Difference-in-Differences Approach," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 84(2), pages 199-216, June.
    16. Dickens, Richard & Machin, Stephen & Manning, Alan, 1998. "Estimating the effect of minimum wages on employment from the distribution of wages: A critical view," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 5(2), pages 109-134, June.
    17. Koichi Fukumura & Atsushi Yamagishi, 2020. "Minimum wage competition," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 27(6), pages 1557-1581, December.
    18. Do, Manh Hung & Nguyen, Trung Thanh & Grote, Ulrike, 2023. "Land consolidation, rice production, and agricultural transformation: Evidence from household panel data for Vietnam," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 157-173.
    19. Zhang, Xu & Wang, Pengmian & Xu, Qiuxiang, 2024. "Corporate environmental governance under the coordination of fiscal and financial policies: The case of green credit subsidy policy," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    20. Luis Aguiar & Jörg Claussen & Christian Peukert, 2018. "Catch Me If You Can: Effectiveness and Consequences of Online Copyright Enforcement," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 29(3), pages 656-678, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:87:y:2026:i:c:s1544612325021270. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/frl .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.