Sustainability

2024

Jump to: 2023, 2022

22 pages, 1865 KiB

Open AccessArticle

International Transportation Infrastructure and China Enterprises Green Innovation: Evidence from the China Railway Express

by Wei Zou and Jiaqi Feng

Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8160; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188160 - 19 Sep 2024

Viewed by 918

Abstract

The China Railway Express (CRExpress) is a vital international transportation infrastructure for the advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative and the expansion of international commerce, providing a significant opportunity for Chinese companies to undergo a sustainable transformation. We use a multi-period differences-in-differences [...] Read more.

The China Railway Express (CRExpress) is a vital international transportation infrastructure for the advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative and the expansion of international commerce, providing a significant opportunity for Chinese companies to undergo a sustainable transformation. We use a multi-period differences-in-differences model to investigate the relationship and mechanism between the opening of the CRExpress and green innovation of enterprises, based on the panel data of Chinese A-shared listed companies from 2007 to 2020. The results show that the opening of the CRExpress can significantly increase the logarithmic number of green patent applications by at least 5% in enterprises with a spoke radius of 250–450 km, and it also has a significant positive effect on different types of green patents to varying degrees. By examining the sub-items of ESG ratings, the opening of the CRExpress can promote the green innovation of enterprises through the improvement of E-score. Additionally, three pivotal mechanism pathways have been identified: the promotion of regional economic development, the alleviation of corporate financing constraints, and the reduction of corporate logistics expenses. Furthermore, we find that the effect of the CRExpress turns out larger on the green innovation of enterprises in the Secondary Industry and the Tertiary Industry, manufacturing industry, state-owned enterprises, and firms located in the eastern and central regions. Based on the empirical study, we provide policy implications for deepening the correlation between the CRExpress and green innovation. Full article

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23 pages, 538 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Can Digital Transformation Drive Green Innovation in China’s Construction Industry under a Dual-Carbon Vision?

by Hui Li, Jiyu Liu, Yulong Liu, Ge Yang, Lingyao Zhang and Xin Yang

Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8042; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188042 - 14 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1298

Abstract

Against the backdrop of increasing global environmental pollution and energy consumption, green innovation is necessary to achieve green transformation. As an industry with a huge demand for resources and energy consumption, the construction industry shoulders the mission of the times to promote green [...] Read more.

Against the backdrop of increasing global environmental pollution and energy consumption, green innovation is necessary to achieve green transformation. As an industry with a huge demand for resources and energy consumption, the construction industry shoulders the mission of the times to promote green innovation to enhance the ability of sustainable development. Digital technology provides new opportunities for green innovation in the construction industry. However, the impacts and mechanisms of digital transformation driving green innovation have not been thoroughly studied. In this paper, 121 listed companies in China’s construction industry are selected as a sample from 2011 to 2021, and a total of 1331 annual observations are obtained, and the impact and mechanism of digital transformation on construction enterprises’ green innovation are empirically analyzed by establishing regression models. The study indicates that digital transformation can facilitate green innovation in construction companies by enhancing corporate risk-taking and improving corporate governance. Compared with non-state-owned enterprises, state-owned enterprises have more endogenous incentives for green transformation based on multiple pressures, which to some extent weakens the driving role of digital transformation. The driving effect of enterprises’ digital transformation is more significant when the intensity of regional environmental regulation is high. This paper examines how the digitization of construction enterprises can lead to new greening ideas from the perspective of green innovation. It provides an important theoretical basis and decision-making reference to support the construction industry in its digital transformation and realize the goal of “dual carbon”. Full article

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20 pages, 3129 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evolutionary Game Analysis of Government Regulation on Green Innovation Behavior Decision-Making of Energy Enterprises

by Gedi Ji, Qisheng Wang, Qing Chang, Yu Fang, Jianglin Bi and Ming Chen

Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7542; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177542 - 30 Aug 2024

Viewed by 756

Abstract

Encouraging environmentally friendly innovation in energy companies is an essential way to stop global warming. Through ingenious integration of reputation and fairness preference, this research develops an evolutionary game model between the government and energy companies. This research investigates the dynamic evolution of [...] Read more.

Encouraging environmentally friendly innovation in energy companies is an essential way to stop global warming. Through ingenious integration of reputation and fairness preference, this research develops an evolutionary game model between the government and energy companies. This research investigates the dynamic evolution of green innovation strategy selection by energy firms operating under government supervision, using an evolutionary game model as a basis. This study examines how government regulations, including their subsidies and penalties, reputation, and fairness preference, affect the green innovation behavior of energy enterprises. The research shows that without considering the fairness preference, the subsidy and punishment of government regulation can improve the tendency of energy enterprises to choose green innovation behavior. At the same time, considering the reputation of energy enterprises to assume social responsibility can improve the tendency of energy enterprises to choose green innovation behavior. In the case of considering fairness preference, energy companies with strong fairness preference are more likely not to adopt green innovation and need more subsidies and penalties to choose green innovation; energy enterprises with weak fairness preference are more likely to adopt green innovation; green innovation will take place with fewer subsidies and penalties; reputation plays a stronger role in energy companies with weak fairness preferences. The study can give the government a theoretical foundation on which to build precise regulatory plans for various energy firms and encourage green innovation in those enterprises. Full article

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23 pages, 1670 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Policy, Green Innovation, and Digital-Intelligent Transformation of Companies

by Xin Tan, Jinfang Jiao, Ming Jiang, Ming Chen, Wenpeng Wang and Yijun Sun

Sustainability 2024, 16(16), 6760; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16166760 - 7 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1065

Abstract

In the midst of rigorous market rivalry, enhancing a company’s competitiveness and operational efficiency in an era of rapid IT advancement is a pressing concern for business leaders. The National Big Data Comprehensive Zone (BDCZ) pilot scheme, instituted by the Chinese government, systematically [...] Read more.

In the midst of rigorous market rivalry, enhancing a company’s competitiveness and operational efficiency in an era of rapid IT advancement is a pressing concern for business leaders. The National Big Data Comprehensive Zone (BDCZ) pilot scheme, instituted by the Chinese government, systematically addresses seven core objectives, encompassing data resource management, sharing and disclosure, data center consolidation, application of data resources, and the circulation of data elements. This policy initiative aims to bolster the establishment of information infrastructure through big data applications, facilitate the influx and movement of talent, and propel corporate sustainable growth. Utilizing a quasi-natural experiment approach, we assess the pilot policy’s influence on the digital-intelligent transformation (DIT) of manufacturing companies from a green innovation ecosystem perspective, employing datasets from 2010 to 2022, and methodologies such as Difference-in-Differences (DID), Synthetic Differences-in-Differences (SDID), and Propensity Score Matching-DID (PSM-DID). The findings indicate that the BDCZ initiative significantly fosters DIT in manufacturing companies. The policy’s establishment confers benefits, including access to increased government support and innovation capital, thereby enhancing the sustainability of green innovation efforts. It also strengthens corporate collaboration, engendering synergistic benefits that improve regional economic progression and establish a conducive environment for digital development, ultimately enhancing the regional innovation ecosystem. The pilot policy’s impact varies across entities, with more profound effects observed in developed financial markets compared to underdeveloped ones. Additionally, non-state-owned companies exhibit a greater response to BDCZ policy interventions than their state-owned counterparts. Moreover, manufacturing bussiness with a higher proportion of executive shareholding are more substantially influenced by the BDCZ. This article fills the research gap by using the quasi-natural experiment of BDCZ to test the impact on DIT of companies and provides inspiration for local governments to mobilize the enthusiasm of manufacturing companies for DIT. Full article

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29 pages, 1507 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Can Participation in the Green Standard-Setting Process Promote Green Innovation in Heavy-Pollution Firms? Evidence from China

by Chengzhi Niu, Hong He, Yunfei Qi and Shoujie Wang

Sustainability 2024, 16(14), 5919; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16145919 - 11 Jul 2024

Viewed by 823

Abstract

This study utilizes unique green standard-setting data from the Chinese government to examine the causal effect of heavy-pollution firms’ participation in the process of setting green standards for green innovation. Our research has the following key findings: (1) High-pollution companies engaging in the [...] Read more.

This study utilizes unique green standard-setting data from the Chinese government to examine the causal effect of heavy-pollution firms’ participation in the process of setting green standards for green innovation. Our research has the following key findings: (1) High-pollution companies engaging in the green standard process have a markedly positive impact on their environmental innovation. Our conclusions hold across multiple rigorous evaluations, including firm fixed effects, instrumental variable methods, placebo analyses, and propensity score-matching techniques. (2) Through our mechanism analysis, we discovered that engaging in the green standard-setting process leads to the creation of a knowledge-sharing network. Within this network, participating in the green standard-setting process effectively enhances green innovation among heavily polluting firms through the knowledge diffusion and enhanced collaboration processes among the participants. (3) In our further analysis, we observed that the positive effect is more significant in companies led by managers with stronger green perceptions and in areas with stricter environmental regulations. Moreover, we demonstrated that involvement in the green standard-setting process can boost the reputation of firms with significant pollution levels. Our study could significantly contribute to the current body of knowledge on the effects of green standardization and the factors driving corporate green innovation. It may also offer additional insights into the implementation of sustainable development practices in emerging economies. Full article

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19 pages, 1948 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Justice and Corporate Green Innovation: The Role of Legitimacy Pressures

by Guoyi Zhang and Dong Chen

Sustainability 2024, 16(13), 5599; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135599 - 29 Jun 2024

Viewed by 1064

Abstract

This study examines the impact of environmental judicial reinforcement on green technology innovation, constructing a progressive difference-in-differences model using firm- and city-level panel data from 2006 to 2019 and taking the successive establishment of environmental courts by the Intermediate People’s Court in Chinese [...] Read more.

This study examines the impact of environmental judicial reinforcement on green technology innovation, constructing a progressive difference-in-differences model using firm- and city-level panel data from 2006 to 2019 and taking the successive establishment of environmental courts by the Intermediate People’s Court in Chinese prefectural-level cities as a quasi-natural experiment. We find that establishing environmental courts in China promotes green technology innovation. This finding still holds after a series of robustness tests such as selected fixed-effects Poisson model regression. The mechanism analysis suggests that environmental courts primarily promote increased green innovation output by heavily polluting firms by exerting more substantial pressure regarding environmental legitimacy. The heterogeneity analysis reveals that the positive impact of the establishment of environmental courts on green technology innovation is more pronounced in water pollution-intensive industries and areas with high public participation and media attention. Our findings provide new insights into how environmental justice affects firms’ green innovation and validate the Porter hypothesis. Also, they serves as a reference for constructing environmental courts in China and other policy jurisdictions that may be interested. Full article

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20 pages, 1215 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Collaborative Pricing of Green Supply Chain of Prefabricated Construction

by Xuelong Zhang, Qian Yang, Tingting Song and Yuxin Xu

Sustainability 2024, 16(13), 5579; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135579 - 29 Jun 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 887

Abstract

In the process of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, prefabricated buildings have developed rapidly, and the concept of green and low carbon has been introduced into the field of prefabricated buildings. This paper establishes an information sharing platform based on BIM (Building Information [...] Read more.

In the process of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, prefabricated buildings have developed rapidly, and the concept of green and low carbon has been introduced into the field of prefabricated buildings. This paper establishes an information sharing platform based on BIM (Building Information Modeling), RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification), and GIS (Geographic Information System) technologies from the green supply chain of prefabricated buildings. On the basis of information sharing, the Stackelberg two-stage game is used to analyze and compare the overall profit of the supply chain under the centralized pricing decision and the decentralized pricing decision. Through numerical simulation, this paper analyzes the relationship between pricing and the overall profit of the supply chain, compares the difference of the overall profit of supply chain under two different pricing strategies, centralized pricing and decentralized pricing, and analyzes the influence of information sharing degree on the overall profit of the supply chain. The results show that the overall profit of the supply chain under centralized pricing decisions is significantly higher than that under decentralized pricing decisions. The higher the degree of information sharing, the greater the overall profit of the supply chain. Full article

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21 pages, 346 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploration or Exploitation? Corporate Green Innovation Strategy for Carbon Emission Reduction-Evidence from Pilot Enterprises in China

by Shanshan Liu and Yugang Li

Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4486; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114486 - 25 May 2024

Viewed by 913

Abstract

Green innovation has become a key strategy for reducing emissions. However, existing research mainly examines this phenomenon through the resource and institutional perspectives, often ignoring the changes in corporate green innovation behavior under industry peer pressure. Therefore, this study draws on the policy [...] Read more.

Green innovation has become a key strategy for reducing emissions. However, existing research mainly examines this phenomenon through the resource and institutional perspectives, often ignoring the changes in corporate green innovation behavior under industry peer pressure. Therefore, this study draws on the policy framework of China’s carbon trading pilot and uses a multi-period difference-in-difference (DID) fixed effects model to explore how carbon trading shapes enterprises’ green innovation strategies. The survey used data from pilot enterprises from 2008 to 2019 and found that carbon trading policies are conducive to green innovation, and both exploratory green innovation and exploitative green innovation have been reflected. It is worth noting that under the influence of peer pressure, this positive effect is more prominent in exploratory green innovation. Furthermore, it was found that firms facing carbon pressure can skillfully find an equilibrium between exploratory green innovation and exploitative green innovation. The research results demonstrate the green innovation strategies and trade-offs of Chinese enterprises facing the impact of carbon trading policies, with the hope that the research conclusions will have certain theoretical reference significance for future corporate green transformation and increased investment in green innovation. Full article

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33 pages, 1588 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Path from Green Innovation to Supply Chain Resilience: Do Structural and Dynamic Supply Chain Complexity Matter?

by Aisha Issa, Amir Khadem, Ahmad Alzubi and Ayşen Berberoğlu

Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3762; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093762 - 30 Apr 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4376

Abstract

At the heart of supply chain innovation lies the challenge of complexity, a pivotal force shaping the pathways to resilience and sustainable success in today’s business environment. Drawing from the resource-based view, dynamic capabilities, and contingency theories, this study examines the impact of [...] Read more.

At the heart of supply chain innovation lies the challenge of complexity, a pivotal force shaping the pathways to resilience and sustainable success in today’s business environment. Drawing from the resource-based view, dynamic capabilities, and contingency theories, this study examines the impact of green innovation strategies on supply chain resilience through the mediation role of green logistics management practices and the moderation effects of dynamic and structural supply chain complexity. Leveraging a quantitative approach, this study surveyed 404 managers from manufacturing firms in Turkey using a combination of physical and electronic questionnaires. Our analysis robustly supports the interconnected roles of green innovation strategy and logistics management practices in bolstering supply chain resilience. A green innovation strategy significantly enhances green logistics management practices and supply chain resilience. Further, green logistics practices contribute positively to supply chain resilience, acting as a crucial mediator in translating green innovation strategies into heightened supply chain resilience. Additionally, the effectiveness of green innovation strategies in improving green logistics management practices is amplified in less structurally complex supply chains. In contrast, the impact of green logistics practices on supply chain resilience becomes more pronounced in environments with lower dynamic complexity, highlighting the nuanced influence of supply chain complexity on sustainability efforts. The study’s findings contribute a novel perspective to the sustainability discourse, emphasizing complexity’s nuanced role as a determinant of supply chain resilience. Full article

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23 pages, 1063 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Can Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturing Enterprises Improve Green Innovation Performance through Innovation Ecosystems?

by Qian Li, Qingyun Gao, Yan Zhang and Chennan Gou

Sustainability 2024, 16(6), 2519; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062519 - 19 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2107

Abstract

Under the fierce business competition and sustainable development pressure, the pattern of enterprise innovation has gradually changed from independent innovation to cooperative innovation. As a collection of multi-type innovation actors, the innovation ecosystem provides opportunities and platforms for cooperative innovation among government–industry–university–research institutions. [...] Read more.

Under the fierce business competition and sustainable development pressure, the pattern of enterprise innovation has gradually changed from independent innovation to cooperative innovation. As a collection of multi-type innovation actors, the innovation ecosystem provides opportunities and platforms for cooperative innovation among government–industry–university–research institutions. While the present studies on innovation ecosystems are mostly from the perspective of the system level, few studies pay attention to the innovation mechanism of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMMEs) in the innovation ecosystem. Therefore, this study takes SMMEs embedded in innovation ecosystems as research objects and explores the factors affecting green innovation. We constructed a theoretical model to explain the effect of innovation eco-embeddedness on green innovation performance based on ecosystem theory and network embeddedness theory; we then collected 363 samples of SMMEs in China through surveys and further tested the data empirically. The results show that the innovation eco-embeddedness (IEE) of SMMEs has a positive effect on their green innovation performance (GIP), and their green value co-creation practices (GVCCPs) partially mediate the relationship between IEE and GIP. Moreover, ecological norms (ENs) in the innovation ecosystem not only positively moderate the impact of IEE on GVCCPs but also positively moderate the mediating role of GVCCPs. This study enriches the relevant research on innovation ecosystems from the perspective of non-core enterprises and provides a theoretical basis and practical reference for SMMEs to implement green innovation practices and realize growth through innovation ecosystems. Full article

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30 pages, 1023 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Capital Market Opening on Enterprise Green Technology Innovation: Insights from the Shanghai–Hong Kong Stock Connect

by Jianfei He, Rong Huang, Jiayu Ding, Yuting Liu and Rongxi Zhou

Sustainability 2024, 16(6), 2369; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062369 - 13 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1349

Abstract

China’s economy has experienced a period of remarkable growth and entered a stage of high-quality development, necessitating the implementation of innovative eco-friendly practices involving green technology innovation. The capital market environment plays a direct role in influencing the sources and scale of external [...] Read more.

China’s economy has experienced a period of remarkable growth and entered a stage of high-quality development, necessitating the implementation of innovative eco-friendly practices involving green technology innovation. The capital market environment plays a direct role in influencing the sources and scale of external financing for businesses, thus affecting their green technology innovation activities. The Shanghai–Hong Kong Stock Connect (SHSC) mechanism in China is the first official two-way opening of China’s capital market. Therefore, this paper regards the SHSC policy as a quasi-natural experiment platform for the opening of the capital market and employs a difference-in-difference methodology to investigate the impact of the SHSC policy on enterprise green technology innovation and its influence mechanisms. The overall sample covers Chinese A-share listed enterprises from 2012 to 2017. The findings demonstrate that the SHSC policy significantly enhances the level of green technology innovation by enhancing corporate governance and alleviating financing constraints. Non-state-owned enterprises are more affected than state-owned ones, and there is no significant difference in the impact between heavily polluting industries and non-heavily polluting ones. Full article

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16 pages, 1032 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Technology Innovation and Enterprise Performance: An Analysis Based on Causal Machine Learning Models

by Xuanai Huang, Yaozhong Wang, Ying Chen and Zunguo Hu

Sustainability 2024, 16(6), 2309; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062309 - 11 Mar 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2109

Abstract

As increasingly stringent environmental regulations are put into effect, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) concepts are being seamlessly integrated into the core of corporate innovation strategies. Due to the quasi-public product perspective of green innovation, the performance of enterprises as a result of [...] Read more.

As increasingly stringent environmental regulations are put into effect, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) concepts are being seamlessly integrated into the core of corporate innovation strategies. Due to the quasi-public product perspective of green innovation, the performance of enterprises as a result of green innovation activities exhibits significant heterogeneity. This heterogeneity exists not only between corporate value and financial performance but also among individual enterprises. This paper is based on a sample of 1510 listed Chinese companies examined from 2013 to 2020 and uses machine learning algorithms and quasi-natural experiments to precisely estimate the causal relationship and mechanisms between green innovation and corporate performance. The findings elucidate several critical aspects of green innovation within the corporate sphere: Firstly, rather than attracting green incentives from financial markets, green innovation activities inadvertently stifle the enhancement of corporate value. Secondly, these activities markedly bolster corporate financial performance, primarily by diminishing operational costs, which in turn elevates the return on assets (ROA). Lastly, of all corporate characteristics examined, enterprise size and equity concentration stand out as key determinants influencing the variability in outcomes of green innovation performance. The above findings provide information on the significant implications of enhancing green technology innovation systems and green incentive mechanisms. Full article

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17 pages, 883 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Patent Protection Policy and Firms’ Green Technology Innovation: Mediating Roles of Open Innovation and Human Capital

by Dong Chen and Shi Chen

Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 2217; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16052217 - 6 Mar 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2201

Abstract

Green innovations such as renewable energy technologies and cleaner process modifications are important technical routes and critical directions for reducing carbon emissions from industrial production processes. This study examines the impact of intellectual property protection on green technology innovation, constructing a progressive difference-in-differences [...] Read more.

Green innovations such as renewable energy technologies and cleaner process modifications are important technical routes and critical directions for reducing carbon emissions from industrial production processes. This study examines the impact of intellectual property protection on green technology innovation, constructing a progressive difference-in-differences model using 849 listed manufacturing firms panel data from 2007 to 2019 and taking the Chinese Intellectual Property Rights model cities as a quasi-natural experiment. Our study finds that the pilot policy significantly enhances corporate green innovation. When considering heterogeneity, the policy treatment effect is more remarkable for large firms, state-owned enterprises, and industries where technology can be easily imitated. Moreover, the mediating effect shows that the policy promotes green innovation by encouraging firms’ research and development cooperation and increasing human capital levels. This study proposes that policymakers should reinforce intellectual property protection, encourage companies to be better and bigger, and emphasize the intermediary function of open innovation and human capital in green technology innovation. Full article

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2023

Jump to: 2024, 2022

17 pages, 713 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Green Credit on Enterprises’ Green Transformation under Sustainable Development: Evidence from Green Innovation in High-Pollution Enterprises in China

by Shining Tian, Hongli Zhang and Guangping Xu

Sustainability 2024, 16(1), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010235 - 26 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1636

Abstract

How to help enterprises reduce pollution and transform into environmentally friendly enterprises through financial channels is an important issue that needs to be urgently addressed. This study constructs a quasi-natural experiment based on the implementation of the 2012 Green Credit Guidelines and evaluates [...] Read more.

How to help enterprises reduce pollution and transform into environmentally friendly enterprises through financial channels is an important issue that needs to be urgently addressed. This study constructs a quasi-natural experiment based on the implementation of the 2012 Green Credit Guidelines and evaluates the impact of green credit policy on green transformation in high-pollution enterprises from the aspect of green innovation. The research results found the following: (1) After the implementation of green credit policy, the quantity and quality of green innovation in high-pollution enterprises have significantly improved. (2) To avoid the inaccuracy of research conclusions caused by differences in sample characteristics, this study used the PSM-DID model to verify the promoting effect of green credit policy on the green transformation of high-pollution enterprises. (3) Furthermore, this study analyzed the impact of differences in the ownership nature of enterprises and regional financial development levels on the green transformation of high-pollution enterprises under green credit policy. The results show that green credit policy has a stronger impact on the green innovation of state-owned high-pollution enterprises and high-pollution enterprises in underdeveloped financial areas. The findings of this study provide an important reference for the reform of green finance of government departments. Full article

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29 pages, 1826 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Regional Big Data Application Capability and Firm Green Technology Innovation

by Guixiang Cao, Xintong Fang, Ying Chen and Jinghuai She

Sustainability 2023, 15(17), 12830; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151712830 - 24 Aug 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1461

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the impact of regional big data application capability (RBDAC) on the green technology innovation (GTI) of manufacturing firms. Based on the data from Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed manufacturing firms in China from 2010 to 2020, the difference-in-differences [...] Read more.

This study aims to investigate the impact of regional big data application capability (RBDAC) on the green technology innovation (GTI) of manufacturing firms. Based on the data from Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed manufacturing firms in China from 2010 to 2020, the difference-in-differences method is used for the analysis. The results show that RBDAC can significantly improve the GTI in manufacturing firms. Further research shows that government subsidy and analyst coverage have strengthened the positive effect of RBDAC on GTI. Extensive analysis validates the heterogeneity of RBDAC in influencing the GTI based on financial constraints, tax administration strengths, regions, property rights, and top management team. The economic outcome test shows that RBDAC also improves firms’ environmental, social, and governance performance. Our findings contribute to the literature on big data application capability and GTI, as well as provide practical enlightenment for manufacturing firms to engage in digital and green practices. Full article

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24 pages, 1524 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Green Technology Research and Development (R&D) Investment on Performance: A Case Study of Listed Energy Companies in Beijing, China

by Piaopeng Song, Yuxiao Gu, Bin Su, Arifa Tanveer, Qiao Peng, Weijun Gao, Shaomin Wu and Shihong Zeng

Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12370; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612370 - 14 Aug 2023

Viewed by 3672

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between green technology R&D investment and corporate performance (ROA) of 44 Beijing-listed energy companies from 2016 to 2021 using a threshold regression model. The results show that there is an inverse W-shaped nonlinear [...] Read more.

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between green technology R&D investment and corporate performance (ROA) of 44 Beijing-listed energy companies from 2016 to 2021 using a threshold regression model. The results show that there is an inverse W-shaped nonlinear relationship between green technology R&D investment and firm performance. This means that green technology R&D investments only have a positive effect on firm performance within an appropriate green technology R&D investment interval, and a negative effect occurs outside this interval. Additionally, the study analyses the influence of three threshold variables (firm size, capital structure and capital density) on the relationship between green technology R&D investment and firm performance. The results show that firm size has an inversely- U-shaped relationship, the capital structure has a negative nonlinear relationship and the capital density has an inversely N-shaped relationship. Optimal intervals are observed for all three threshold variables. Moreover, the study shows that the green technology R&D investment intensity has a lagged effect on firm performance. The positive influence weakens over time, and the negative influence becomes more pronounced. The findings of the study can help energy companies to develop green technology R&D innovation strategies, such as differentiating green technology R&D expenditures for companies in different development situations. It can also exploit the driving effect of green technology R&D investment on firm performance in the context of China’s energy sector restructuring. Full article

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15 pages, 245 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Challenges, Opportunities and Future Paths: Environmental Governance of Big Data Initiatives in China

by Kai Xu

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 9975; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15139975 - 23 Jun 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2377

Abstract

Environmental governance is a common task confronting human society in the 21st century. In recent years, China’s environmental crisis has been alleviated to some extent by the Chinese government’s vigorous regulation. However, as the world factory, China’s total greenhouse gas emissions have ranked [...] Read more.

Environmental governance is a common task confronting human society in the 21st century. In recent years, China’s environmental crisis has been alleviated to some extent by the Chinese government’s vigorous regulation. However, as the world factory, China’s total greenhouse gas emissions have ranked first in the world for many years, and China still faces a very huge environmental protection pressure. The degree of informationization of China’s environmental governance must be improved, with particular emphasis on the collection and use of environmental big data to help transform, upgrade, and improve the efficiency of China’s environmental governance. The Chinese government obviously recognizes this and keeps promulgating policy documents related to environmental big data, and there are certain achievements in practice, but it is still in the primary stage of figuring out in general with many imperfections existing. The United States and other countries have more mature experience in the collection and application of environmental big data, which can be an important reference for China. Establishing organizational structures to support the development of environmental big data, striving to form a team of professionals with interdisciplinary knowledge, strengthening relevant legislation for environmental big data, and utilizing international environmental cooperation mechanisms to conduct international cooperation on environmental big data are the areas that China needs to focus on most in the process of improving the collection and use of environmental big data in the future. Full article

15 pages, 466 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Transformation and Green Innovation of Energy Enterprises

by Yutong Liu and Peiyi Song

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7703; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097703 - 8 May 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3672

Abstract

The era of the digital economy has ushered in a new development opportunity for the energy industry, and the role of digitalization in the green and low-carbon transformation process of the energy industry has received increasing attention. Based on the panel data of [...] Read more.

The era of the digital economy has ushered in a new development opportunity for the energy industry, and the role of digitalization in the green and low-carbon transformation process of the energy industry has received increasing attention. Based on the panel data of 55 energy enterprises in China, this study explores the mechanism by which energy enterprises’ digital transformation impacts enterprise green innovation from the perspective of dynamic capability and adopts the double-fixed-effects regression model to empirically analyze the impact of energy enterprises’ digital transformation on enterprise green innovation. The study explores the mediating role of dynamic capability between energy enterprise digital transformation and enterprise green innovation and conducts heterogeneity analysis. The empirical results show that there is a significant positive correlation between the digital transformation level and the green innovation level of energy enterprises. The mechanism test shows that the digital transformation of energy enterprises can promote their green innovation ability by improving their dynamic capability. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the digital transformation of energy enterprises has a significant promotional effect on the green innovation of state-owned enterprises but has no significant effect on non-state-owned enterprises. The results of this study provide a reference for promoting the green development of enterprises, enhancing the green and low-carbon transformation of the energy industry and realizing the sustainable development of enterprises. Full article

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27 pages, 365 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Deviation of Corporate Green Behaviour under Economic Policy Uncertainty Based on the Perspective of Green Technology Innovation in Chinese Listed Companies

by Deshuai Hou, Luhan Shi, Hong He and Jian Xiong

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7611; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097611 - 5 May 2023

Viewed by 1517

Abstract

In the current context of economic transformation and a complex environment, increasing economic policy uncertainty may lead to deviations in corporate green behaviour, and it is particularly important to correct such deviations. On this basis, this paper empirically analyses the impact of economic [...] Read more.

In the current context of economic transformation and a complex environment, increasing economic policy uncertainty may lead to deviations in corporate green behaviour, and it is particularly important to correct such deviations. On this basis, this paper empirically analyses the impact of economic policy uncertainty on corporate green behaviour bias based on statistical data of Chinese listed companies from 2007 to 2019. We find that economic policy uncertainty inhibits corporate green technology innovation but increases corporate innovation as a whole. Using the mechanism test, it was found that the internal inducement is mainly due to the prominent financing problems and limited development ability under the influence of uncertainty. After carrying out a heterogeneity test, it was found that economic policy uncertainty causes enterprises to deviate from green technology innovation more significantly in state-owned enterprises and protected industries, while this effect is significantly reduced when firms face fierce product market competition. Furthermore, strengthening executives’ power and implementing incentive mechanisms can more effectively correct the deviation. This study provides empirical evidence with which to strengthen corporate green innovation practices. Full article

15 pages, 254 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Evolutionary Analysis of the Impact of Outward Foreign Direct Investment on Green Innovation Heterogeneity—From the Perspective of Binary Innovation

by Luhao Liu, Honglin Zhou and Jiaping Xie

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7341; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097341 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1439

Abstract

In the current era of increasingly frequent international exchanges and countries’ increasing emphasis on green development, exploring the complex relationship between outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) and green innovation has become an important research topic. Taking the binary innovation perspective as an entry [...] Read more.

In the current era of increasingly frequent international exchanges and countries’ increasing emphasis on green development, exploring the complex relationship between outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) and green innovation has become an important research topic. Taking the binary innovation perspective as an entry point, this paper is devoted to exploring the heterogeneous impact and dynamic evolution of OFDI on green innovation since China’s accession to the WTO. The purpose is to form a more comprehensive and specific understanding of how OFDI affects green innovation. By sorting out the characteristics of economic development at the early stage of China’s WTO accession and implementation of the “going out” strategy, the period of counter-trend growth of OFDI after the financial crisis, and the “new normal” period of China’s transformation and development, this paper analyzes in detail the impact of OFDI on green innovation and green binary innovation in each stage. According to the study, the coefficients of the effects of OFDI on green innovation in the three stages are 0.214 (fully significant at the 1% level), −0.057 (insignificant), and 0.137 (significant at the 5% level), showing an overall effect of promoting–insignificant–promoting; In addition, the fact that the development orientation of OFDI is different at different stages leads to significant heterogeneity in its impact on green innovation and green binary innovation. The coefficients of OFDI on green exploratory innovation at the three stages are 0.064 (insignificant), −0.107 (significant at 10% level), and 0.099 (significant at 5% level), and the coefficients of OFDI on green exploitative innovation are 0.258 (fully significant at 1% level), −0.036 (insignificant) and 0.142 (significant at 5% level), respectively. The results reveal that OFDI on green binary innovation shifts from focusing on promoting green exploitative innovation to taking green binary innovation into account, and this heterogeneous performance effect matches the development characteristics of each stage. The results of the study show more clearly the association between OFDI and green innovation in China and provide new references for subsequent academic research and management practice. Full article

22 pages, 1312 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Green Finance Promote the Green Transformation of China’s Manufacturing Industry?

by Ming Chen, Lina Song, Xiaobo Zhu, Yanshuo Zhu and Chuanhao Liu

Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6614; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086614 - 13 Apr 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3275

Abstract

The green transformation of the manufacturing industry is related to the low-carbon and green development of the economy. The study explored the impact mechanism of the implementation of green finance policy on the green transformation of China’s manufacturing industry from 2013 to 2021 [...] Read more.

The green transformation of the manufacturing industry is related to the low-carbon and green development of the economy. The study explored the impact mechanism of the implementation of green finance policy on the green transformation of China’s manufacturing industry from 2013 to 2021 from three aspects of capital formation and incentive, credit catalysis, integration and decentralization, and conducted a quasi-natural experiment using difference-in-difference (DID) model. Research finds that: (1) The implementation of green finance significantly promotes the green transformation of China’s manufacturing industry and has good sustainability. The mechanisms of fund formation and orientation, credit catalysis, integration and decentralization are the primary mechanism of green finance to promote the green transformation of the manufacturing industry, and the implementation effect of green finance has apparent heterogeneity; (2) The promoting effect of green finance on the green transformation of the manufacturing industry is solely vast in state-owned industries however now not enormous in non-state-owned industries; (3) The influence of green finance on the green transformation efficiency of manufacturing industry with a better information environment is more significant than manufacturing industry with a worse information environment; (4) Faced with the pressure of investing in green industries, the coping strategies adopted by enterprises in different industries are quite different. The promoting effect of green finance on the green transformation of the manufacturing industry is significant in low-competition industries but insignificant in high-competition industries. This study has enriched the research on the effect of green finance policies, explored solutions based on quasi-nature, and provided policy references for the green transformation of the manufacturing industry. Full article

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21 pages, 341 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study on the Impact Mechanism of Digitalization on Corporate Green Innovation

by Shanshan Gao, Wenqi Li, Jiayi Meng, Jianfeng Shi and Jianhua Zhu

Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6407; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086407 - 9 Apr 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3316

Abstract

With the wide application of digital technologies such as big data, cloud computing and 5G technology, the digital transformation of enterprises provides new ways for enterprises to enhance green innovation and achieve sustainable development. Starting from the resource-based view and combining signaling theory [...] Read more.

With the wide application of digital technologies such as big data, cloud computing and 5G technology, the digital transformation of enterprises provides new ways for enterprises to enhance green innovation and achieve sustainable development. Starting from the resource-based view and combining signaling theory and stakeholder theory, this article empirically analyzes the impact of enterprise digitalization level on green innovation by examining the effect of enterprise digitalization level on green innovation and the inner transmission mechanism. The results show that (1) the digitalization level of enterprises can promote the improvement of green innovation, and this is not affected by the nature of property rights and the region of enterprises; (2) there is a partial mediating effect of government subsidies in the relationship between the digitalization level of enterprises and green innovation, and enterprises can obtain more innovation resources and thus promote green innovation through the improvement of digitalization level, and this effect is stronger in enterprises in eastern regions than in other regions; (3) The relationship between digitalization level and green innovation is positively affected by the fulfillment of corporate social responsibility, and the promotion effect of digitalization level on green innovation is strengthened as the degree of fulfillment of corporate social responsibility increases. This article reveals the ways in which digitalization level influences enterprise green innovation, which further enriches the theoretical study of enterprise green innovation. The article provides policy suggestions for the government to improve the level of corporate green innovation and achieve the dual carbon goal; it also provides references for enterprises to build a multi-level influence mechanism to promote the improvement of the green innovation level based on the stakeholder theory. Full article

20 pages, 899 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Can New-Type Urbanization Promote Enterprise Green Technology Innovation?—A Study Based on Difference-in-Differences Model

by Ran Zhang, Guoquan Kong and Huaping Sun

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 6147; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076147 - 3 Apr 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1794

Abstract

China proposed a new-type urbanization (NTU) strategy in 2012 to solve ecological and environmental problems caused by the traditional rapid and rough urbanization development model. Focusing on the policy’s important goal of building green and smart cities, it is crucial to explore whether [...] Read more.

China proposed a new-type urbanization (NTU) strategy in 2012 to solve ecological and environmental problems caused by the traditional rapid and rough urbanization development model. Focusing on the policy’s important goal of building green and smart cities, it is crucial to explore whether the pilot of NTU promotes green innovation at the enterprise level, and thus achieves green environmental protection. Based on data from 1717 Chinese listed companies’ green patent applications between 2011 and 2020, this paper studies the impact effect of NTU on enterprises’ green technology innovation utilizing the difference-in-difference model combined with the PSM-DID method. The findings indicate that: NTU has a substantial effect on enterprise innovation in green technologies. The mechanism analysis shows that NTU can encourage green technology innovation in enterprises by easing their financial restrictions. This requires the government to encourage enterprises to engage in green technology innovation by alleviating their financing constraints and reducing their debt financing costs through policy incentives and financial subsidies. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the impact of the policy on green innovation is more significant in the central and western regions, highly marketable areas, non-heavy-polluting industries, and among enterprises with higher levels of green innovation. Full article

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17 pages, 1430 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Higher Education, Technological Innovation, and Green Development—Analysis Based on China’s Provincial Panel Data

by Tonggong Zhang, Zhe Ma and Yingshi Shang

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4311; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054311 - 28 Feb 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2365

Abstract

Higher Education and technological innovations have so far proved to be key factors of regional green development as they have been seen to contribute greatly to economic growth and environmental protection. On the other hand, higher education positively supports technological innovation by offering [...] Read more.

Higher Education and technological innovations have so far proved to be key factors of regional green development as they have been seen to contribute greatly to economic growth and environmental protection. On the other hand, higher education positively supports technological innovation by offering knowledge production and transformation. The majority of the studies being conducted around this have focused more on promoting regional green development by backing the importance of technological innovation and the reinforcement of talent reserve in higher education. However, very few studies have been dedicated to pointing out specific ways in which higher education influences regional green development. In this study, based on provincial panel data for 2003–2020 in China, both the direct and in-between effect of higher education on green development was evaluated using the mediation effect model. Then a panel threshold model was created to explore the regional differences in this effect in China. Key results show that higher education significantly promotes regional green development, and technological innovation plays an in-between role in the above-mentioned influence relationships; there is significant diversity among regions with different developing levels of technological innovation, and the positive impact of higher education on green development in educationally developed provinces gradually decreases, while this positive impact in educationally developing provinces keeps rising. Specific policy recommendations to promote regional green development for higher education mainly include further balancing investment in higher education, coordinating the development of higher education and technological innovation, and strengthening the flow of resources among provinces. Full article

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17 pages, 2027 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Low-Carbon Technology Innovation Decision Making of Manufacturing Companies in the Industrial Internet Platform Ecosystem

by Hongxia Zhao, Guangming Xu, Lu Liu, Changchun Shi and Huijuan Zhao

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3555; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043555 - 15 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2646

Abstract

Low carbon has become a highly relevant topic in today’s society, particularly for manufacturing enterprises. To gain insight into how manufacturing enterprises embedded in the industrial internet platform make decisions regarding low-carbon technology innovation, this article examines the service quality of the platform, [...] Read more.

Low carbon has become a highly relevant topic in today’s society, particularly for manufacturing enterprises. To gain insight into how manufacturing enterprises embedded in the industrial internet platform make decisions regarding low-carbon technology innovation, this article examines the service quality of the platform, the low-carbon preferences of the manufacturing enterprises, and government subsidy factors. A platform ecological system game model, comprised of a single manufacturing enterprise and an industrial internet platform, is then established. The results indicate that, under the model’s assumptions, the decarbonization of production can only occur when the cost of low-carbon innovation is below a specific threshold. Decentralized decision making is more effective in promoting low-carbon innovation by the manufacturing enterprises when the cost of low-carbon technology innovation is low. The greater the service quality of the industrial internet platform, the stronger the positive influence of the low-carbon preferences of users and government subsidies on the low-carbon innovation level of the manufacturing enterprises. This study offers useful decision-making advice for both the industrial internet platform and the manufacturing enterprises. Full article

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14 pages, 1102 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Contract Coordination Mechanism of Contract Farming Considering the Green Innovation Level

by Yuqiang Wu, Weiwei Guo, Zigong Cai, Yang Tong and Jingpeng Chen

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3314; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043314 - 10 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2046

Abstract

Green agriculture is an important issue in agricultural development. The farming cooperative frequently chooses to improve its green innovation level of agricultural products to support the growth of green agriculture. Based on the characteristics of contract farming, this paper establishes a decision-making objective [...] Read more.

Green agriculture is an important issue in agricultural development. The farming cooperative frequently chooses to improve its green innovation level of agricultural products to support the growth of green agriculture. Based on the characteristics of contract farming, this paper establishes a decision-making objective function for agricultural cooperatives considering the level of green innovation and uses the Stackelberg game method to analyze the decision-making behavior of contract farming supply chain participants. The research found that the green innovation level of the cooperative increased with the increase in yield per mu, and that the optimal contract price and planting area increased with the expansion of the market size. In particular, the planting area and green innovation level under the decentralized decision-making situation were lower than those under the centralized decision-making situation. Therefore, to better achieve supply chain coordination and improve the green innovation level, this paper proposes a “Cost sharing + Alliance expense” contract coordination mechanism. Numerical analysis shows that the contract coordination mechanism can effectively improve the green innovation level and realize the Pareto improvement in the profits of the cooperative and the enterprise. Full article

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17 pages, 2567 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evolutionary Game and Simulation of Collaborative Green Innovation in Supply Chain under Digital Enablement

by Mo Li, Hua Dong, Haochen Yu, Xiaoqi Sun and Huijuan Zhao

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3125; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043125 - 8 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2233

Abstract

The deep integration of digital technologies has given rise to the development of new industries and models in various sectors, as well as new opportunities and challenges. Whether digital transformation can drive collaborative green innovation in the supply chain has also become an [...] Read more.

The deep integration of digital technologies has given rise to the development of new industries and models in various sectors, as well as new opportunities and challenges. Whether digital transformation can drive collaborative green innovation in the supply chain has also become an important topic of great interest, which has not yet been resolved. In this paper, we study the impact of digital enablement on collaborative green innovation in supply chain enterprises in order to assist in reasonable strategic decision making. An evolutionary game model is constructed for both upstream and downstream supply chain companies under digital enablement, following which the model is solved and systematically simulated. Our main findings are as follows: The influencing factors of collaborative green innovation in the supply chain can be divided into driving factors, blocking factors, and regulating factors. After digital enablement, the effect of the drivers of collaborative green innovation is more obvious, the side-effects of the deterrents are weakened, and the threshold of the positive effect of the moderators is expanded. Overall, digital enablement helps to promote collaborative green innovation in the supply chain, and companies should apply digital technology to enable collaborative green innovation. Full article

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26 pages, 302 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Health Status on the Labor Supply of Older Adults with Different Socioeconomic Status

by Yan-Ting Liu, Yao-Dong Zhou and Jiao-Li Cai

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1511; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021511 - 12 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1854

Abstract

Based on the panel data of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) collected from 2011 to 2018, this paper establishes a model using the instrumental variables method to investigate the effects of poor health on labor participation, labor hours, agricultural labor [...] Read more.

Based on the panel data of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) collected from 2011 to 2018, this paper establishes a model using the instrumental variables method to investigate the effects of poor health on labor participation, labor hours, agricultural labor participation, agricultural labor hours, off-farm labor participation, and off-farm labor hours of older adults with different economic statuses. This paper conducts an empirical analysis to examine how subjective, self-rated poor health and objective poor health measured using the number of chronic diseases can affect the labor supply of older adults. The study of its influence on labor supply from the perspective of health can help to maintain the labor supply of the aged from the perspective of improving the health of the aged, provide a certain reference for the labor shortage caused by China’s aging society, and enrich the content of health economics. According to the research findings, subjective, self-rated poor health significantly reduces the labor participation of older adults. Although self-rated poor health does not affect the off-farm labor participation of older adults, it significantly reduces the likelihood of older adults engaging in agricultural labor. In addition, self-rated poor health also reduces the overall labor hours and off-farm labor hours of older adults, although no effects were observed on their agricultural labor hours. On the other hand, chronic diseases also reduce the overall likelihood of labor participation for older adults, resulting in significantly lower off-farm labor participation, although no effects were observed on their agricultural labor participation. The number of chronic diseases found in older adults does not affect their off-farm labor hours, but it does increase the hours they invest in agricultural labor. Full article

2022

Jump to: 2024, 2023

18 pages, 980 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Carbon Emission Quota of Railway in China from the Perspective of Equity and Efficiency

by Yanan Guo, Qiong Tong, Zhengjiao Li and Yuhao Zhao

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 13789; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142113789 - 24 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1925

Abstract

Under the constraint of total carbon emissions, the allocation of carbon emission quotas of 18 railway bureaus in China is conducted to the realization of carbon emission reduction targets of China’s railway transportation industry. This paper proposes a carbon emission quota model for [...] Read more.

Under the constraint of total carbon emissions, the allocation of carbon emission quotas of 18 railway bureaus in China is conducted to the realization of carbon emission reduction targets of China’s railway transportation industry. This paper proposes a carbon emission quota model for China’s railway industry from the perspective of equity and efficiency and innovatively undertakes research on the allocation of carbon emission quotas for railway administrations. This paper constructs an econometric model to analyze the impact of various influencing factors on China’s railway operation carbon emission and predicts the total carbon emission of China’s railway operation from 2021 to 2030 by scenario analysis method. From the perspective of equity and efficiency, apply the entropy method to give weight to historical responsibility, egalitarianism, and efficiency principle to obtain the initial allocation value of the carbon emission quota of the operator’s 18 regional railway bureau groups; the ZSG-DEA model is used to obtain the optimal allocation. The results show that railway passenger turnover, freight turnover, vehicle structure, and per capita GDP have a promoting effect on railway carbon emission, and the proportion of clean energy has an inhibitory effect on carbon emission. There is a gap between the distribution results under the single principle and the comprehensive distribution results; the combination of both can more effectively promote the development of the railway industry. From the perspective of equity and efficiency, the carbon emission quota of 18 railway bureau groups in China is high in the east and low in the west. Among them, the Shanghai railway bureau obtains the most carbon emission quota, while the Qinghai–Tibet railway bureau obtains the least carbon emission quota. The research results provide a reference for the railway bureau to coordinate emission reduction and the construction of the railway transport carbon emission market. Full article

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