IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i17p7938-d1741406.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How Does Carbon Constraint Policy Uncertainty Affect the Corporate Green Governance? Evidence from Chinese Industrial Enterprises

Author

Listed:
  • Qifeng Wei

    (Business School, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
    Institute for Industrial Economics, Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences, Chengdu 610071, China
    Institute of Western China Economic Research, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Zihao Wang

    (Business School, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China)

Abstract

Macro policy regulation centered on carbon emissions profoundly influences the path for enterprises to achieve low-carbon transformation. Using panel data from Chinese A-share listed companies over the period from 2014 to 2023, this study adopts the methods of panel regression, moderating effect and mediating effect. The empirical research finds that: (1) Policy uncertainty from carbon emission constraints significantly incentivizes industrial enterprises to adopt greener governance strategies. (2) The mechanism analysis indicates that the uncertainty posed by carbon emission constraints influences corporate green governance by enhancing regional green finance development, intensifying corporate financing constraints, and improving the quality of corporate green innovation. (3) Enterprises with substantial environmental protection investments and stronger reputations are less susceptible to changes in their green governance strategies triggered by carbon emission constraint policies. (4) The effects of carbon constraint policy uncertainty on green governance strategies of industrial enterprises exhibit heterogeneity. Specifically, these effects are relatively weaker for non-heavy-polluting enterprises located in carbon emission trading pilot cities, enterprises with higher information disclosure quality, and enterprises whose senior executives have backgrounds in environmental protection. Ultimately, to promote the sustainable development of industrial enterprises, this study provides three recommendations.

Suggested Citation

  • Qifeng Wei & Zihao Wang, 2025. "How Does Carbon Constraint Policy Uncertainty Affect the Corporate Green Governance? Evidence from Chinese Industrial Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-33, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:17:p:7938-:d:1741406
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/17/7938/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/17/7938/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Liu, Chen & Xiong, Mengxu, 2022. "Green finance reform and corporate innovation: Evidence from China✰," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    2. Wen Yu Tan & Lingjun Guo & Wenhua Wang, 2025. "Research on the relationship between environmental governance pressure and green innovation," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 5255-5278, February.
    3. Cheng, Hua & Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad, 2023. "How green finance can bridge the energy poverty gap: Policies to mitigate socioeconomic and environmental consequences," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    4. Chuyao Deng & Wenliang Peng & Zhenjiang Dou & Qidi Zhang, 2024. "Environmental Background Directors and ESG Performance: A Perspective on Green Governance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-22, December.
    5. Pinglin He & Huayu Shen & Ying Zhang & Jing Ren, 2019. "External Pressure, Corporate Governance, and Voluntary Carbon Disclosure: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-20, May.
    6. Li, Yu & Yaacob, Mohd Hasimi & Xie, Tao, 2024. "Effects of China's low carbon pilot city policy on corporate green innovation: Considering the mediating role of public environmental concern," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    7. Yumei Guan & Chiwei Su & Tao Guan, 2025. "The Dynamic Bidirectional Causality Between Carbon Pricing and Green Technology Innovation in China: A Sub-Sample Time-Varying Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-23, June.
    8. Balan, Philipe & Norden, Lars, 2024. "Are measures of corporate financial constraints universal? Evidence from Brazil," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    9. Huang, Hongyun & Mbanyele, William & Wang, Fengrong & Zhang, Chenxi & Zhao, Xin, 2023. "Nudging corporate environmental responsibility through green finance? Quasi-natural experimental evidence from China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    10. Liu, Sheng & Wang, Yukai, 2023. "Green innovation effect of pilot zones for green finance reform: Evidence of quasi natural experiment," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PA).
    11. Hu, Xinwen & Hua, Renhai & Liu, Qingfu & Wang, Chuanjie, 2023. "The green fog: Environmental rating disagreement and corporate greenwashing," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    12. Li, Kaifeng & Xia, Bobo & Chen, Yun & Ding, Ning & Wang, Jie, 2021. "Environmental uncertainty, financing constraints and corporate investment: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    13. Lee, Kiryoung & Cho, Juik, 2023. "Measuring Chinese climate uncertainty," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 891-901.
    14. Yu, Chin-Hsien & Wu, Xiuqin & Zhang, Dayong & Chen, Shi & Zhao, Jinsong, 2021. "Demand for green finance: Resolving financing constraints on green innovation in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    15. Hangbo Liu & Xuemeng Guo & Dachen Sheng, 2024. "The Impact of Heterogeneous Market Sentiments on Corporate Risk-Taking and Governance," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-21, November.
    16. Chen, Gaocai & Liu, Peng & Jiang, Aiying, 2024. "Does digital transformation in enterprises reduce debt default risk?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    17. Pascal Peduzzi, 2019. "The Disaster Risk, Global Change, and Sustainability Nexus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-21, February.
    18. N. P. Hariram & K. B. Mekha & Vipinraj Suganthan & K. Sudhakar, 2023. "Sustainalism: An Integrated Socio-Economic-Environmental Model to Address Sustainable Development and Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-37, July.
    19. Pan, Junyu & Hunjra, Ahmed Imran & Bruna, Maria Giuseppina & Zhao, Shikuan & Bouri, Elie, 2024. "Shaping sustainability: How corporate reputation can be enhanced under climate change conditions," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PA).
    20. United Nations UN, 2015. "Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," Working Papers id:7559, eSocialSciences.
    21. Shi Wang, 2025. "Green Credit, Digital Economy and Enterprise Pollution Reduction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-24, April.
    22. Weian Li & Jian Xu & Minna Zheng, 2018. "Green Governance: New Perspective from Open Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, October.
    23. Waris Ali & Jeffrey Wilson & Jedrzej George Frynas, 2024. "Corporate governance mechanisms and carbon disclosure: A multilevel and multitheory literature survey," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(6), pages 5670-5689, November.
    24. Ding, Qian & Huang, Jianbai & Chen, Jinyu, 2023. "Does digital finance matter for corporate green investment? Evidence from heavily polluting industries in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    25. Hu, Yingde & Bai, Wensong & Farrukh, Muhammad & Koo, Chun Kwong, 2023. "How does environmental policy uncertainty influence corporate green investments?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    26. Wu, Fan & Wang, Xingguo & Liu, Tao, 2023. "Sustainable development goals, natural resources and economic growth: Evidence from China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    27. Dongri Han & Miaomiao Li & Ke Lu, 2025. "Digital platforms enabling carbon neutral technology innovation: based on market incentives and government constraints," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-17, December.
    28. Li, Nan & Zhou, Yifan, 2024. "Can digital financial development promote corporate green technology innovation?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 1562-1582.
    29. Wen Yu Tan & Lingjun Guo & Wenhua Wang, 2025. "Correction: Research on the relationship between environmental governance pressure and green innovation," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 5445-5445, February.
    30. Kamran Mohy‐ud‐Din & Muhammad Shahbaz & Shoh‐Jakhon Khamdamov, 2025. "Does Green Governance Reflect Corporate Sustainability Performance? New Insight From G5 Countries," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(4), pages 4900-4922, July.
    31. Zhang, Dongyang, 2023. "Does green finance really inhibit extreme hypocritical ESG risk? A greenwashing perspective exploration," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    32. Shuke Fu & Mengxia Tian & Yingchen Ge & Tingting Yao & Jiali Tian, 2024. "Influencing Factors and Mechanisms of Corporate Social Responsibility Reputation under Green and Low-Carbon Transition: Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-20, April.
    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. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Wang, Fuhao & Lou, Runchi & Wang, Keying, 2023. "How does green finance drive the decarbonization of the economy? Empirical evidence from China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 671-684.
    2. Xu, Aiting & Zhu, Yuhan & Wang, Wenpu, 2023. "Micro green technology innovation effects of green finance pilot policy—From the perspectives of action points and green value," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    3. 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.
    4. Fangjun Wang & Xinmiao Zhou & Tian Gan, 2024. "Can green funds improve corporate environmental, social, and governance performance? Evidence from Chinese-listed companies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(3), pages 1-32, March.
    5. Hao, Xiaoli & Li, Ke & Ren, Siyu & Sun, Qingyu & Hu, Weitao & Xue, Yan, 2024. "How green investment significantly relieves resource curse? A new perspective from fiscal decentralization," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    6. 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.
    7. Cui, Xiaona & Mohd Said, Ridzwana & Abdul Rahim, Norhuda & Ni, Mengjiao, 2024. "Can green finance Lead to green investment? Evidence from heavily polluting industries," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 95(PB).
    8. Wang, Yafei & Shi, Ming & Zhao, Zihan & Liu, Junnan & Zhang, Shiqiu, 2025. "How does green finance improve the total factor energy efficiency? Capturing the mediating role of green management innovation and embodied technological progress," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    9. Jianfei Zhao & Anan Pongtornkulpanich & Wenjin Cheng, 2022. "The Impact of Board Size on Green Innovation in China’s Heavily Polluting Enterprises: The Mediating Role of Innovation Openness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-20, July.
    10. Yan Ma & Gen‐Fu Feng & Zhu‐jia Yin & Chun‐Ping Chang, 2025. "ESG disclosures, green innovation, and greenwashing: All for sustainable development?," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(2), pages 1797-1815, April.
    11. E Bai & Kai Wu & Hongxin Zhu & Hejie Zhu & Zhijiang Lu, 2024. "How does China’s green credit policy affect the innovation of high-polluting enterprises? From the perspective of innovation quantity and quality," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(5), pages 1-31, May.
    12. Qianyi Du & Haoran Pan & Shuang Liang & Xiaoxue Liu, 2023. "Can Green Credit Policies Accelerate the Realization of the Dual Carbon Goal in China? Examination Based on an Endogenous Financial CGE Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-26, March.
    13. Yin, Lei & Yang, Yuanyuan, 2024. "How does digital finance influence corporate greenwashing behavior?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PB), pages 359-373.
    14. Zhao, Xingqi & Ke, Xiaojun & Jiang, Songyu, 2024. "Spatial impact of green finance reform pilot zones on environmental efficiency: A pathway to mitigating China's energy trilemma," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 312(C).
    15. Haoyang Lu & Alistair Hunt, 2025. "Towards Sustainability: How Does Climate Policy Uncertainty Affect Regional Green Innovation in China?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-27, March.
    16. Peng, Xiaonan & Zhu, Shiyou & Wu, Xixi, 2025. "The impact of strict financial regulatory policies on corporate diversification decisions," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    17. 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).
    18. Lanlan Liu & Guomin Song, 2023. "Green finance and the synergy of ESGGI performance of Chinese companies: Does green concern matter?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(12), pages 1-19, December.
    19. Zhang, Cheng & Zhou, Bo, 2023. "Where should the money go? The green effect of governmental guidance when sustainable finance impacts brown firms," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    20. Pan, Liang & Yang, Yong, 2025. "Enhancing investment efficiency through improved information disclosure," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).

    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:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:17:p:7938-:d:1741406. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.