How does green credit policy improve corporate social responsibility in China? An analysis based on carbon-intensive listed firms

For China to become carbon neutral, green financing is seen as a crucial avenue, wherein the green credit policy, which was introduced in 2012, is a crucial tool. However, whether the policy would work and how to improve its effectiveness remain unknown. This study attempts to analyze the policy's effects on carbon performance, a crucial measure of Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), particularly in carbon-intensive industries, using a sample of Chinese listed companies from 2009 to 2018. As a result, first, it's confirmed that the policy can boost carbon performance of carbon-intensive firms. Additionally, this study has verified that firm's R&D investment intensity has no mediating role in the relationship between the policy and carbon performance, while debt financing cost partly mediating the relationship, implying the policy fails to stimulate technological innovation. Moreover, firms with stronger environmental regulation intensity, weaker financing constraints, poorer corporate governance and more analyst following have greater promotion in carbon performance after the policy execution. Finally, the policy significantly improves the quality of corporate environment information disclosure. Briefly, this study enriches theoretical grounding regarding strategies of green reform in carbon-intensive industries and provides implications for emerging economies to improve green finance via enhancing CSR.