Abstract
This study investigates the relationship between emission reduction policies (ERPs), corporate governance (CG), and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across firms from developed and emerging economies between 2011 and 2022. Using a comprehensive firm-level dataset and a multi-method approach, including pooled OLS and longitudinal firm fixed effects models, the study provides robust evidence on how CG enhances the effectiveness of ERPs. The results indicate that while ERPs alone have limited impact on reducing GHG intensity, firms with strong corporate governance structures achieve more substantial emission reductions, particularly in high-emission sectors and well-governed environments. Thus, corporate governance plays a moderating role in ensuring that ERPs translate into substantive environmental outcomes rather than symbolic actions. These findings highlight the importance of governance in addressing cheap-talk and inform policymakers and investors on the critical need for high-quality ESG data to guide decision-making and promote genuine corporate sustainability efforts.
Presenters
Michael König SykorovaClimate Finance Expert (and PhD Candidate), FS-UNEP Centre for Climate and Renewable Energy Finance, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, Hessen, Germany
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Technical, Political, and Social Responses
KEYWORDS
CLIMATE CHANGE, GHG INTENSITY, ESG, BUSINESS STRATEGY, GOOD GOVERNANCE
