Corporate Environmental Governance in China

The book explores how diverse stakeholder groups―particularly community and regulatory stakeholders―shape corporate environmental practices. Focusing on one of the world’s largest economies, this book provides an in-depth analysis of stakeholder dynamics and their impact on corporate environmental performance and disclosure.

Environmental governance has become a global imperative as environmental crises intensify and stakeholder expectations grow. The book examines the interplay between community advocacy and regulatory actions and particularly focuses on how community stakeholders drive corporate accountability by pressuring regulatory authorities to enforce stricter measures or provide financial incentives. The chapters include discussions on the role of public environmental awareness and concern in shaping corporate performance and disclosure practices. The book also highlights how regulatory influence mediates the relationship between community influence and corporate environmental outcomes, offering new insights into the interactive dynamics of stakeholder influence.

This book will be of interest to policymakers, corporate managers, and academics seeking to understand the nuanced relationships between businesses, governments, and communities. It offers actionable recommendations for fostering effective environmental governance and sustainable corporate practices.

Le Luo is an associate professor in the Department of Accounting and Corporate Governance at Macquarie University. Her research interests predominantly lie in corporate sustainability and carbon accounting, with a focus on the impact of environmental regulations on business carbon practices and capital markets. She has authored two book chapters and over 50 academic papers in prestigious journals.

Hongtao Shen is an accounting professor in the Management School at Jinan University. She is an associate editor of the Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy journal. She is engaged in environmental accounting and sustainability management research and has authored three books and published more than 80 papers in prestigious Chinese and English journals.

Yankun Zhou is a postdoctoral fellow at the Business School of Beijing Technology and Business University, specializing in corporate environmental governance, corporate sustainable information disclosure, and sustainable supply chains. She has authored over 10 papers published in prestigious Chinese and English journals.