Leading Energy Transition:How can Executives with Environmental Background Enhance Clean Energy Technology Innovation
Qian Xinyi1, Huang Yongchun1,2, Zou Chen3, Hu Shiliang4
1. School of Business,Hohai University,Nanjing 211100,China; 2. Hohai University Base of Research Center on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in Jiangsu Province, Nanjing 210098,China; 3. School of Management Engineering,Nanjing Institute of Technology,Nanjing 211167,China; 4. School of Business,Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology,Nanjing 210044,China
Abstract：Against the backdrop of global carbon neutrality goals,the energy sector,being the largest source of carbon emissions,has become central to the green and low-carbon transition.As key actors in environmental governance,firms play a pivotal role in advancing clean energy technology innovation,which is essential for achieving sustainable development.Drawing on imprinting theory and upper echelons theory,this paper uses panel data of Chinese A-share listed firms from 2009 to 2021,to empirically examine how executives with environmental backgrounds influence firms' clean energy technology innovation and explores the underlying mechanisms.The results show that:(1)Appointing executives with environmental backgrounds significantly promotes firms' clean energy technology innovation.(2)Heterogeneity analyses further indicate that this effect is more pronounced among both state-owned and non-state-owned enterprises,non-heavy-polluting firms,and firms located in eastern and central regions of China.(3)Mechanism analyses reveal that executives with environmental backgrounds enhance clean energy technology innovation by strengthening corporate environmental responsibility and attracting green investors,thereby reinforcing firms' incentives and resource support for clean energy innovation.(4)Further analyses demonstrate that executives with environmental backgrounds positively affect not only the quantity but also the quality of clean energy technology innovation,suggesting that the observed increase in innovation output is not driven by low-quality or bubble-like innovation.This study extends the application of upper echelons theory to the context of clean energy transition and provides empirical evidence on how executive characteristics shape firms' innovation strategies.The findings offer important implications for firms and policymakers by highlighting the role of executive team composition,corporate environmental responsibility,and green capital in promoting clean energy technology innovation under carbon neutrality targets.
钱昕怡, 黄永春, 邹晨, 胡世亮. 引领能源转型:高管环保背景何以提升清洁能源技术创新[J]. 中国科技论坛, 2026(4): 28-39.
Qian Xinyi, Huang Yongchun, Zou Chen, Hu Shiliang. Leading Energy Transition:How can Executives with Environmental Background Enhance Clean Energy Technology Innovation. , 2026(4): 28-39.
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