No abstract

This paper uses the number of green patents granted of listed companies and the number of fintech companies in prefecture‐level cities in China from 2011 to 2018 to investigate the impact of fintech development on corporate green technology innovation and its mechanisms. We find that fintech can significantly promote corporate green technology innovation. Specifically, the promotion effect of fintech works through three channels: alleviating financing constraints, gathering scientific and technological talents, and optimizing environmental regulations. Heterogeneity tests find that its promotion effect is more significant for the eastern region, invention patents, state‐owned enterprises, and low environmental uncertainty.

Based on China's government‐business relations theory, we use difference‐in‐differences and causal forest to find that local green finance policies can significantly enhance corporate ESG performance especially for nonstate‐owned companies, companies with high levels of executive social capital, non‐heavily polluting companies, and companies in developed regions. We also find that the corporate financing constraint mitigation effect and the regional environmental regulation effect of local green finance policies are important mechanisms for promoting corporate ESG performance. Additionally, local green finance policies can strengthen the positive role of corporate ESG performance in enhancing corporate value, which is conducive to corporate sustainability.