关键词: ESG表现, 环境不确定性, 数字技术创新, 高质量发展

Abstract: This paper employs data from A-share non-financial companies from 2009 to 2022 to investigate the impact of corporate ESG performance on digital technology innovation. The findings indicate that corporate ESG performance can significantly enhance the level of digital technological innovation. The mechanism test reveals that corporate ESG performance can facilitate digital technology innovation through various mechanisms, including the identification of digital innovation opportunities, the optimization of digital asset allocation, and the advancement of human capital. The heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that the impact of corporate ESG performance on digital technology innovation is more pronounced among non-state-owned firms, firms with robust internal controls, firms with greater external scrutiny, and non-heavily polluting industries. Further analysis also reveals that environmental uncertainty has a negative moderating effect, weakening the facilitating effect of corporate ESG performance on digital technology innovation. Digital technology innovation empowers high-quality development of firms, and this empowering effect is more pronounced in samples with poor ESG performance of firms. The findings of this paper not only deepen the understanding of the consequences of corporate ESG practices, but also provide new perspectives for enhancing digital technology innovation.

Key words: ESG Performance, Environmental Uncertainty, Digital Technology Innovation, High-Quality Development