Search Results (702)

Green technology innovation (GTI) is an important way for enterprises to promote technological progress and enhance their market competitiveness. As investment in R and D and innovation is a high-risk, long-term investment project with high sensitivity to relevant policies, increases or drastic fluctuations in economic policy uncertainty (EPU) may have a strong impact on technological innovation. Therefore, it is necessary to examine how EPU affects GTI. In contrast to studies that have focused on the impacts of EPU on GTI in developed countries or state-owned firms in China, this study uses the mediating effect panel fixed effect model to investigate the impacts of EPU on corporate GTI and its mechanisms, based on data from China’s Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share private manufacturing listed companies from 2013 to 2022. The results indicate that an increase in EPU has a positive impact on the GTI of private enterprises and that the impact is stronger in companies with multiple major shareholders, those purchasing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, and those with stricter environmental regulations. This conclusion remains valid after robustness checks and instrumental variable tests. Mechanism tests reveal that the increase in EPU indirectly promotes GTI by forcing private enterprises to avoid short-sighted management tendencies, increase risk-taking levels, boost environmental protection investments, and strengthen internal controls. For example, EPU will lead to increased investment in green protection, meaning that private companies are more willing to promote green transformation and market competitiveness through innovative activities. These findings provide a reference for the Chinese government to formulate targeted environmental regulation policies and financing policies to guide the green transformation of businesses; they also provide insights for enterprises in other developing countries to cope with economic policy risks and promote green technological advancement. Full article

As the main driving force of the new technological revolution, intelligent development is the key to promoting high-quality economic development. This paper empirically examines the nonlinear influence of intelligent development on green economy efficiency and its action paths using provincial panel data of China from 2009 to 2021. The result provides significant evidence of a U-shaped relationship between intelligent development and green economy efficiency, indicating that intelligent development initially leads to green economy efficiency decreases before ultimately increasing. Additional analysis confirms that environmental regulation, green finance, and industrial agglomeration positively moderate the impact of intelligent development on green economy efficiency. Furthermore, heterogeneous tests reveal that in the eastern region and after the release of “Made in China 2025” in 2015, the nonlinear effect of intelligent development on green economy efficiency is more pronounced. The findings of this paper provide a beneficial reference for how to leverage intelligent technology to release new kinetic energy for green economic growth under the new development concept. Full article

This study investigates the impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance on the green technological innovation (GTI) of Chinese A-share-listed companies, using data from 2009 to 2022. The findings indicate that strong ESG performance significantly enhances GTI, with this effect being more pronounced in state-owned firms and non-high-tech sectors, demonstrating heterogeneity across firm types. Mechanism analysis reveals that ESG performance facilitates GTI by mitigating financing constraints and boosting R&D investments. Moreover, the study identifies a non-linear relationship, wherein the effect of ESG on GTI varies with firm size and environmental regulation intensity, as confirmed through a threshold model. This study not only deepens the theoretical framework linking corporate ESG performance with GTI but also uncovers the practical mechanisms through which ESG performance drives GTI, providing both practical insights and theoretical foundations for governments to formulate corporate green transition policies. Full article

The formation and development of new quality productivity of agriculture can effectively promote agricultural sustainability and modernization. In order to explore the multiple paths of the formation of new quality productivity of agriculture, using the panel data of 30 provincial levels in China from 2012 to 2021, based on the “technology-organization-environment” framework and dynamic QCA method, this paper explores how seven factors such as agricultural technology innovation, digital infrastructure, innovation policy support, the formation of e-commerce industry, marketization level, green finance, and rural culture modernization interact to promote the formation of new quality productivity of agriculture. The findings reveal that none of the above seven factors can promote the formation of new quality productivity of agriculture, and agricultural technological innovation and digital infrastructure are becoming more and more important to the formation of new quality productivity of agriculture over time. The high new quality productivity of agriculture formation models can be categorized into four types: TOE empowers new business model development-driven, government–market–culture triple-driven, market-oriented efficient transformation of technological achievements-driven, and deep integration of agricultural technological innovation and emerging agricultural business models-driven. The configurational results exhibit significant regional effects, with diverse pathways for the formation of new quality productivity of agriculture across different provinces. Full article

The study evaluates the interest of business-educated Gen Z in pursuing careers in various industries and their potential to accelerate Green Innovation (GI). It specifically focuses on Gen Z in Europe, who are business-educated and pursuing their career in different industry sectors, and aiming to address climate change and sustainable practices. By adopting Green Entrepreneurial Orientation (GEO) and building Absorptive Capacity (AC), companies can significantly contribute to improving Environmental Orientation (EO) by appealing to Gen Z—their future employees and customers. The study aims to survey 280 business-educated Gen Z people in Europe. The findings of the study show that the relationship between absorptive capacity and environmental orientation is not always significant, and the impact can be negligible, specifically when the firms have a low commitment to environmental strategies and have a limited strategic emphasis on sustainable practices. The study aims to encourage innovation and sustainable growth among firms, opening the door to a more sustainable future and attracting goodwill from environmentally oriented Generation Z. The publication/article presents the results of the project financed from the subsidy granted to the Krakow University of Economics. Full article

Low-carbon pilot policies are essential for the green transformation of resource-based cities, helping them mitigate the “carbon curse” and the “resource curse” while promoting sustainable socio-ecological development. Focusing on a panel of 114 resource-based cities in China, spanning from 2003 to 2022, this study employs a range of methodologies, including kernel density estimation, the Difference-in-Differences Model, Spatial Difference-in-Differences, Mediation Analysis, K-means Clustering, and Dual Machine Learning to assess the consequences of low-carbon pilot policies on socio-ecological resilience. The findings indicate that the socio-ecological resilience of the study area has generally improved, though there is noticeable polarization. Low-carbon pilot policies significantly enhance the resilience of resource-based cities by 0.4%, and they exhibit a positive spatial spillover effect of 1.1%. However, the long-term effects of the policies on economic resilience were not significant, and the policies did not have a direct impact on the social resilience of the pilot cities; however, they did promote social resilience in neighboring regions. Finally, the effectiveness of low-carbon pilots varies, with more pronounced benefits in declining and mature resource cities, particularly in those with medium ecological and economic resilience, and low social resilience. Green finance, industrial transformation, and carbon emission efficiency are identified as key strategies for improving socio-ecological resilience. The above findings provide insights for policymakers seeking to foster inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban development in China. Full article

The European Green Deal (EGD) is a package of policy initiatives launched by the European Commission in December 2019, which aims to set the European Union (EU) on the path to a green transition with the final goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The package includes interlinked initiatives covering the climate, the environment, energy, transport, industry, agriculture, and sustainable finance. It is thus evident that holistic and scientifically sound decision support systems are crucial to help EU policymakers and stakeholders in monitoring the progress of countries towards the implementation of the EGD. Indeed, the multidimensionality of this policy initiative lends itself well to its integration into a Multiple Criteria Decision Aiding (MCDA) approach to the identification of priorities for action. Therefore, this research aims to evaluate the progress of the EU countries towards the implementation of the European Green Deal, using MCDA. The PROMETHEE II method was applied to the data for EU countries, using 26 key indicators collected from the Eurostat database and organized into three thematic clusters. The results enabled us to calculate overall scores measuring the degree of implementation of the EGD by the EU countries, and their profiles with respect to the key indicators and thematic clusters. By analyzing these profiles, strengths and weaknesses were identified. Thus, the fundamental novelty of this research consists of the first concrete application of a holistic and ‘ready-to-use’ decision-making tool that can be adopted by EU policymakers and stakeholders to draw up a roadmap towards climate neutrality. Full article

This paper examines the complex interplay between environmental management (EM) and decarbonization, highlighting how these domains can be seamlessly integrated to create a comprehensive framework for sustainable futures in the energy sector. The framework emphasizes the adoption of green technologies, energy efficiency measures, and innovative carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies and infrastructures. Central to this approach are circular economy principles, low-greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions production processes, and CCUS strategies. A conceptual model of the EM–decarbonization nexus, comprising six enablers, was developed and illustrated with practical examples from various countries and regions worldwide. The findings reveal significant progress in advancing EM and decarbonization efforts. However, additional support from governments and the private sector is imperative in areas such as research and development, equitable transfer of renewable energy technologies, infrastructure for energy transitions, energy storage systems, green financing mechanisms, public education and community outreach, public–private partnerships, international cooperation, active engagement in global organizations, and the deployment of digital solutions. By addressing these areas, a sustainable future for the energy sector can be realized. Full article

Global climate change has necessitated a transition to sustainable development, prompting nations to prioritize green total factor productivity (GTFP) as a key indicator of economic and environmental efficiency. This study examines the role of the green innovation network (GIN) in enhancing urban GTFP within China’s Yangtze River Delta (YRD)—a region pivotal to national economic growth and ecological sustainability. Using data from 41 cities spanning 2011 to 2020, we constructed the GIN based on inter-city green cooperative patents and analyzed the network positions of cities using a social network analysis (SNA). Urban GTFP was assessed through the Super-SBM model, and two-way fixed-effects panel models, along with a threshold effect model, were applied to evaluate the impacts of GIN on GTFP. The findings reveal that stronger network positions within the GIN significantly enhance urban GTFP, with green finance further amplifying this effect. These results provide actionable insights for policymakers in developing countries, highlighting the importance of integrated innovation strategies and enhanced green financial systems to promote sustainable urban development. Full article

With the strategic background of accelerating the transformation of the low-carbon economy in China, how to better help the new energy automobile industry realize green and high-quality development under the goal of “dual-carbon” with the strengthening of science and technology has become one of the most important issues nowadays, and it is of great significance to explore the relationship between financial technology (fintech) and the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of the new energy automobile (NEV) industry. Using panel data from NEV companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share markets between 2011 and 2022, this study applies text mining techniques to construct a fintech index and analyze the transmission mechanisms through which fintech influences ESG performance. The findings show that fintech directly improves ESG outcomes for NEV companies, a result that remains robust across a series of validation tests. The analysis reveals that fintech reduces financing constraints and enhances corporate environmental information disclosure, which in turn drives better ESG performance. Furthermore, the impact of fintech is particularly pronounced in state-owned enterprises, large-scale firms, and technologically advanced NEV companies, as evidenced by heterogeneity analysis. This study provides empirical insights into fintech’s role in advancing sustainable development in the NEV sector, offering guidance for policymakers and industry stakeholders aiming to align technological progress with environmental and social governance objectives. Full article

Promoting green innovation is an important way to implement the dual carbon strategy and build an innovative country. Based on the panel data of 250 cities in China from 2011 to 2018, this paper constructs a two-way fixed-effect model, an intermediary effect model and a spatial Durbin model, and empirically studies the impact and mechanism of digital finance on urban green innovation. The results show that digital finance can improve the ability of urban green innovation, and its enabling effect mainly comes from improving the financial service model and improving the digital level. However, the role of digital finance in improving the efficiency of green innovation is not significant. Digital finance can promote urban green innovation by promoting the development of the Internet and alleviating the distortion of labor factors. A good environment for innovation will enhance the role of digital finance in promoting green innovation. Through further analysis, the spatial spillover effect of digital finance on green innovation at this stage is dominated by the siphon effect while the “trickle-down” effect is blocked. Full article

In the current tide of technological revolution and industrial transformation, digitalization and greening have surfaced as two prominent trends, serving as the inherent requisites and impelling forces of new productive forces. Augmenting carbon emission efficiency is a crucial pathway for attaining green development. Digital inclusive finance, as an innovative financial paradigm, is a significant determinant influencing carbon emission efficiency and the progression of green development. By harnessing panel data from 108 cities within the Yangtze River Economic Belt spanning from 2011 to 2021, this study deploys the super-efficiency SBM model to gauge carbon emission efficiency. Additionally, it employs fixed effects and mediating mechanism models to empirically scrutinize the impact of digital inclusive finance on carbon emission efficiency within urban agglomerations in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The study further probes its spatial effects through a spatial Durbin model. The research findings disclose that digital inclusive finance can substantially augment carbon emission efficiency in regional cities along the Yangtze River Economic Belt, manifesting notable regional correlations. This enhancement is accomplished by propelling industrial structure upgrades and augmenting scientific and technological capabilities. To enhance carbon emission efficiency in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, efforts should be centered around advancing digital inclusive finance, expediting industrial structural transformation, and fortifying scientific and technological development. Full article

As investors increasingly incorporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into their decision-making, sustainable Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) have gained prominence in both investment portfolios and financial research. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the Sustainable ETF research landscape by utilizing scientometric and bibliometric methods with tools such as VOSviewer, Bibliometrix, and CiteSpace. Drawing from the Web of Science and Scopus databases, the study identifies key thematic areas, influential authors, and emerging trends. The findings highlight the conceptual evolution of Green ETFs, from early definitions focused on ESG-aligned investments to more complex instruments incorporating diversified screening criteria and advanced technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence. Practical challenges such as regulatory inconsistencies, high implementation costs, and limited investor education are underscored as critical barriers to broader adoption. Future trends reveal the growing role of blockchain technology for ESG verification, crisis-specific ETF models, and the development of more inclusive screening strategies. Strategically, Green ETFs demonstrate resilience during market volatility and support sustainability-driven investment frameworks. The study provides valuable insights for investors, policymakers, and researchers, emphasizing Green ETFs’ role in driving sustainable finance and offering actionable guidance for optimizing ESG investment strategies. Full article

As environmental pollution intensifies, China has begun to implement green credit policies to reduce credit allocation to highly polluting enterprises. This research examines the influence of green credit on the cash flow of heavily polluting enterprises, based on the implementation of the “Green Credit Guidelines”. The policy creates a quasi-natural experimental setting by giving businesses access to an exogenous occurrence. Consequently, this paper uses data from 494 A-share listed companies in China over a fifteen-year period from 2007 to 2021 and employs a Difference-in-Differences (DID) model to assess the net effect of the policy, positing that green credit scheme will prevent highly polluting businesses from making money. The empirical findings show that the green credit policy significantly reduces the cash flow of businesses that emit a lot of pollutants, especially when it comes to operational cash flow. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the cash flow of high-emission regions and non-state-owned heavily polluting enterprises is affected even more significantly. Previous research has often overlooked cash flow as a metric; however, cash flow is a critical indicator of an enterprise’s operational status. From this angle, this study adds to our knowledge of how green credit schemes affect highly polluting businesses. Additionally, it contributes to the ongoing discussion regarding the relationship between financial constraints and cash flow. China’s government ought to keep encouraging the creation of green credit regulations, enhance supervision of state-owned heavily polluting enterprises, and pay attention to low-emission regions by establishing dynamic regulatory indicators to promote ecological civilization construction and the transformation and upgrading of lagging industries. Full article

In the current economic landscape, businesses are challenged by the dual imperatives of digital transformation and sustainability goals. While digital transformation is often heralded as a catalyst for innovation, its potential negative effects on green innovation remain underexplored. This study fills in this gap by analyzing 1443 listed companies on the Shanghai Stock Exchange main board between 2013 and 2022, focusing on the mechanisms by which digital transformation impacts green innovation and on the moderated role of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. Our findings reveal that digital transformation hinders green innovation by increasing financing constraints. However, good ESG performance mitigates these negative impacts by alleviating financing constraints, thereby fostering green innovation. Our findings hold up against endogeneity tests by applying instrumental variable methods. Notably, the effect of digital transformation and ESG differs significantly between state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and non-state-owned enterprises (non-SOEs). While non-SOEs experience more pronounced challenges, ESG also demonstrates a stronger moderating role, unlike in SOEs, where institutional advantages offset some of these constraints. These findings enhance the understanding of dual transformation challenges, offering practical implications for aligning digital and green strategies in diverse organizational contexts. Full article