Can Government Environmental Attention Improve Corporate Carbon Emission Reduction Performance?—Evidence from China A-Share Listed Companies with High-Energy-Consumption

Abstract

Government support for achieving corporate carbon emission reduction is crucial not only for sustainable business development, but it also holds strategic importance for China to achieve its “dual-carbon” goals. This article empirically explores the impact and underlying mechanisms of government environmental attention (GEA) on corporate carbon emission reduction performance (CEP), using a sample of A-share listed companies with high energy consumption from 2009 to 2020. The results show that GEA can improve corporate CEP. A heterogeneity analysis found that this effect is more pronounced in heavily polluting industries, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and companies located in the eastern regions of the country. A mechanism analysis suggested that GEA can improve corporate CEP by strengthening internal green technological innovation capabilities and attracting attention from external analysts and media. These research conclusions guide corporate carbon emission reduction practices and offer empirical evidence for the government in formulating regulatory policies for carbon reduction.