The Impact of Corporate Green Technological Innovation on Environmental, Social and Governance-An Empirical Analysis Based on Green Patent Data from Chinese A-Share Listed Companies

Abstract

Against the backdrop of China's dual carbon goals, green innovation has become a critical pathway for enterprises to achieve sustainable development. This study examines the impact of green patents on corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance using panel data from Chinese A-share listed companies between 2015 and 2023, further exploring the moderating effects of firm size and state-owned attributes. Employing a fixed-effects regression model with interaction terms to capture moderation effects, the findings reveal that: Regression results indicate that the quantity of green patents exerts a significant positive influence on corporate ESG scores, with green innovation activities enhancing overall performance across environmental, social, and governance dimensions. Further moderation analysis reveals that firm size exerts a significant negative moderating effect on the relationship between green patents and ESG performance, whereas state-owned enterprise status does not significantly impact this relationship. This study enriches empirical evidence on the linkage between green innovation and ESG performance, providing a reference for governments to formulate differentiated green policies and for enterprises to implement sustainable development strategies.