Research on the relationship between environmental governance pressure and green innovation

Abstract

In the context of building an ecological civilization, green innovation has become a key pathway to achieving sustainable development. Environmental governance pressure, as an external driving force, compels enterprises to assume environmental responsibilities and serves as a critical driver of green innovation. However, this relationship remains underexplored in academic research. Based on this, this study investigates the impact of environmental governance pressure on green innovation, providing empirical support for the development of green strategies. Analyzing provincial panel data from China (2007–2021) using spatial econometric models, we explore the intricate mechanisms by which environmental governance pressure influences green innovation and how these effects vary between coastal and inland regions. The findings present a comprehensive picture: ① Environmental governance pressure significantly stimulates green innovation across Chinese provinces; ② Compared to inland regions, coastal areas experience a more pronounced positive effect; ③ There is a threshold effect, where moderate environmental regulation amplifies the positive impact of governance pressure on green innovation; ④ Green credit and innovation investment partially mediate the relationship between governance pressure and green innovation. These findings collectively enhance our understanding of how environmental governance pressure guides and stimulates the trajectory of green innovation.