Abstract
Against the backdrop of accelerating global
carbon neutrality and deepening Paris Agreement rules, this study explores the economic
impacts of carbon disclosure (CD), a key link between corporate environmental
governance and capital market valuation. Using panel data of Chinese A-share
listed firms (2015–2022), we employ fixed-effects models, mediation tests, and
regression analyses to examine CD’s effects on firm valuation. Key
findings include: (1) one unit increase in
CD level raises valuation by 8.6%; (2) CD’s valuation
boost is stronger for non-state-owned and manufacturing firms; (3) Introducing
the SA index to measure financing constraints reveals a mediating mechanism: CD
alleviates information friction, reduces financing constraints, and improves
investment efficiency. The study empirically supports refining CD systems and
environmental governance strategies, while innovatively integrating stakeholder
theory with dynamic valuation models to expand the frontiers of firm valuation
research.
JEL classification numbers: G34, G38, G39.
Keywords: Carbon
disclosure, Corporate valuation, Financing constraints, Sustainable development.