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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Environ. Sci.
Sec. Environmental Economics and Management
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1526681
This article is part of the Research Topic Climate Risk and Green and Low-Carbon Transformation: Economic Impact and Policy Response View all 13 articles

ESG Performance and Carbon Emission Intensity: Examining the Role of Climate Policy Uncertainty and the Digital Economy in China's Dual-Carbon Era

Provisionally accepted
Shiyu Li Shiyu Li 1Xiangyuan Ao Xiangyuan Ao 2*Mengdie Zhang Mengdie Zhang 3Mingyu Pu Mingyu Pu 4*
  • 1 Xuzhou College of Industrial Technology, Xuzhou, China
  • 2 Putra Malaysia University, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
  • 3 Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong, Sichuan, China
  • 4 Anhui Xinhua University, Hefei, Anhui, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations and the general direction of global green and low-carbon transformation, China has formulated a dual-carbon target. It aims to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and strive for carbon neutrality by 2060. Therefore, carbon emission intensity (CEI) has gradually become a research focus. This study investigates the effect of ESG performance on CEI, and explores the moderating effect of climate policy uncertainty (CPU) and the digital economy (DE) on ESG performance and CEI, using provincial-level data in China from 2011 to 2020. The analysis reveals that ESG performance significantly alleviates CEI. In addition, CPU weakens the efficiency of ESG initiatives in decreasing CEI due to regulatory unpredictability, while the digital economy's expansion, although innovative, may exacerbate CEI in regions dependent on fossil fuels. The study contributes to the literature by highlighting the need for integrated policies that harmonize digital growth with sustainability goals. Additionally, it underscores the significance of considering CPU and DE as critical moderating factors in ESG-CEI dynamics, offering insights for policymakers aiming to balance technological advancement with environmental responsibility.

    Keywords: Sustainable development goals, ESG performance, Carbon emission intensity, Climate policy uncertainty, digital economy

    Received: 15 Nov 2024; Accepted: 31 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Li, Ao, Zhang and Pu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Xiangyuan Ao, Putra Malaysia University, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
    Mingyu Pu, Anhui Xinhua University, Hefei, 230088, Anhui, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.