The Impact of ESG Performance on Green Technology Innovation: A Moderating Effect Based on Digital Transformation

Chen Xu () and Yu He
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Chen Xu: School of Accounting, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing 210023, China
Yu He: School of Accounting, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing 210023, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-22

Abstract: Corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance has emerged as a critical focus of societal and academic interest. This study employs an empirical analysis utilizing a sample of Chinese A-share listed companies to investigate the relationship between ESG performance and green technology innovation. The results demonstrate that ESG performance significantly enhances green technology innovation, with digital transformation acting as a moderating variable in this relationship. Furthermore, the analysis reveals that corporate social responsibility performance and internal governance mechanisms exert a more substantial influence on green technology innovation compared to other ESG dimensions. Notably, the impact of ESG performance on green technology innovation is more pronounced among firms in non-polluting industries and those operating in regions characterized by higher levels of marketization.

Keywords: corporate ESG performance; digital transformation; green technology innovation; green development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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