Corporate Social Responsibility Development and Climate Change: Regional Evidence of China

Shouhao Li, Weiquan Cheng, Jingjing Li and Hao Shen
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Shouhao Li: School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Weiquan Cheng: Stuart School of Business, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616, USA
Jingjing Li: College of Public Management, Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, Guiyang 550025, China
Hao Shen: Stuart School of Business, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616, USA

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-20

Abstract: This study analyzed Chinese companies’ behavior regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure, and its impact on national and regional climate change measured by carbon emissions. CSR disclosure, supported by existing theories, is considered a powerful tool to curb climate change issues. We combined data of companies’ publicly traded annual financial reports and CSR reports from the China Stock Market and Accounting Research (CSMAR) database and provincial macroeconomic statistics from the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics to run panel regressions. The results verify the following: (a) China is in a relatively early stage of CSR development, and Chinese firms’ internal incentives to adopt CSR projects are low since none of the internal factors researched contribute to CSR disclosure. (b) External factors work slightly better for CSR practices, but at the same time, the CSR regulations still need further improvement. (c) The current CSR disclosure practices do not have a clear impact on carbon emission reduction, contrary to some predictions that CSR could help reduce carbon emissions.

Keywords: corporate social responsibility; climate change; carbon emission; regional development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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