Corporate Decarbonisation and Financial Performance: Evidence from South Africa

Nkiru Philomena Okika (), Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu and Olayinka Adedayo Erin ()
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Nkiru Philomena Okika: Anchor University
Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu: Obafemi Awolowo University
Olayinka Adedayo Erin: University of Johannesburg

A chapter in Embracing Technological Agility in Accounting and Business – Vol. 3, 2026, pp 1-13 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract The study assesses the empirical relationship between corporate decarbonisation and financial performance in South Africa, leveraging a rich dataset of 411 firm-year observations from 48 non-financial listed firms on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange from the period 2015 to 2023. The year 2015 was selected as it marks the beginning of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) era. The dataset was obtained from the Eikon Refintiv site. The study employed a panel two-step Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) and found that high carbon emission intensity and energy consumption intensity (a measure of energy efficiency) reduce financial performance. Renewable energy use does not show a significant effect on financial performance. Overall, the findings suggest that companies in South Africa can enhance financial performance by reducing carbon emission intensity and improving energy efficiency. This study highlights the importance of including sustainability practices in business decision-making procedures. The study highlights the financial advantages of going green, such as lowering carbon emissions and increasing energy efficiency.

Keywords: Decarbonisation; Financial performance; Carbon emission intensity; Energy efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:prbchp:978-3-032-13388-5_1

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-13388-5_1

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