Research on the Impact of ESG Performance on Green Innovation of Chinese Export Enterprises

Against the backdrop of China's "dual-carbon" (carbon peaking and carbon neutrality) strategy, this study focuses on the relationship between ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance and green innovation during the green development transformation of Chinese export enterprises. By constructing a fixed-effects model and conducting empirical analysis using panel data of listed companies from 2009 to 2022, the research reveals the following findings:1.ESG performance significantly promotes green innovation among Chinese export enterprises;2.In regions with a higher degree of openness to the outside world, the promoting effect of ESG performance on green innovation is more pronounced;3.Mechanism tests indicate that environmental regulations play a key mediating role between ESG performance and green innovation;4.Carbon emission levels strengthen the positive impact of ESG performance on environmental regulations;5.Heterogeneity analysis based on property rights shows that the promoting effect of ESG performance on green innovation is more prominent in state-owned enterprises.Based on the research conclusions, this paper proposes that Chinese export enterprises should prioritize market deployment in regions with a high degree of openness, actively comply with the requirements of environmental regulation policies, and fully leverage the demonstrative and leading role of state-owned enterprises in green innovation, so as to promote the high-quality green development of enterprises.