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Corporate governance mechanisms and carbon disclosure: A multilevel and multitheory literature survey

Author

Listed:
  • Waris Ali
  • Jeffrey Wilson
  • Jedrzej George Frynas

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive review and synthesis of 62 empirical studies on corporate governance drivers of carbon disclosure. We reveal that companies are experiencing pressure for carbon disclosure at multiple levels. At the macro‐level, pressures from regulatory institutions, normative institutions, financial markets, media, society, and economic cost were the most influential factors driving carbon disclosure. At the meso‐level, peer pressure from companies in similar industries as well as owners and investors influenced carbon disclosure. At the micro‐level, board diversity, board independence, and internal organizational systems explained the likelihood and commitment to carbon disclosure. In addition, we comprehensively reviewed and synthesized the theoretical lenses that have been used in scholarship on the impact of corporate governance mechanisms on carbon disclosure. Our study is the first multitheory and multilevel literature review on the impact of corporate governance mechanisms on carbon disclosure.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:corsem:v:31:y:2024:i:6:p:5670-5689
    DOI: 10.1002/csr.2869
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Xin Zhao & Shuyang Wang & Xiaoyu Wu, 2025. "Leveraging Board Experience Diversity to Enhance Corporate Green Technological Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-25, April.
    2. Chen, Jianghe & Hu, Fengying, 2026. "Can carbon commitments enhance the consistency of carbon disclosure and carbon performance? A natural experiment based on China's carbon neutrality commitment," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 944-964.
    3. 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.
    4. Du, Jiao & Zhen, Ziyu & Wei, Xiaoxue & Li, Ranran, 2025. "Achieving energy justice through corporate carbon disclosure: The effects of voluntary and third-party verification mechanisms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).

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