Corporate Carbon Neutrality Responsibility and Employment: "Value-Creation Tool" or "Self-Interest Tool"

LI Yugang; XU Gengxi

Volume 40 Issue 4

Jul. 2025

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Article Navigation > Journal of Guangdong University of Finance & Economics > 2025 > 40(4): 66-79

LI Yugang, XU Gengxi. Corporate Carbon Neutrality Responsibility and Employment: 'Value-Creation Tool' or 'Self-Interest Tool'[J]. Journal of Guangdong University of Finance & Economics, 2025, 40(4): 66-79.

Citation:

LI Yugang, XU Gengxi. Corporate Carbon Neutrality Responsibility and Employment: "Value-Creation Tool" or "Self-Interest Tool"[J]. Journal of Guangdong University of Finance & Economics, 2025, 40(4): 66-79.

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Corporate Carbon Neutrality Responsibility and Employment: "Value-Creation Tool" or "Self-Interest Tool"

School of Business, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China

Received Date: 2025-03-26
Available Online: 2025-09-09
Publish Date: 2025-07-28

Abstract

Abstract

The continuous global warming has led to frequent extreme weather events, triggering strong demands from the public for firms to take on environmental governance responsibilities, and promoting firms to fulfill carbon neutrality responsibilities in the core agenda of sustainable development strategies. Using a sample of A-share listed industrial companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen from 2019 to 2023, this study examines the impact of corporate carbon neutrality responsibility (CCNR) on employment. The study finds that CCNR can increase firm employment and create more jobs, and confirm its role as a "value-creation tool". This effect is mainly achieved through reputation and financing optimization effects. The moderating effect analysis shows that CEO overseas experience and firm cost pass-through ability positively moderate the relationship between CCNR and firm employment, and regional environmental regulation negatively moderates the relationship between the two. Further research finds that CCNR expands the employment of highly educated employees and sales personnel, and reduces the employment of production personnel. This study has important policy implications for promoting CCNR engagement and improving employment levels.
- corporate carbon neutrality responsibility (CCNR),
- employment,
- reputational effect,
- financing optimization effect

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References(44)

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