Construction and Application of Carbon Performance Evaluation Index System for Chinese Industrial Enterprises From the Perspective of Low-Carbon Transition

Abstract

The active implementation of low-carbon practices by enterprises is essential for achieving the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality (“dual carbon”). These low-carbon practices are reflected not only in the greening of resource inputs but also in the low-carbon performance at the output level. Therefore, this study uses carbon cost calculations as a link and combines them with the relationship between inputs and outputs to conduct a multidimensional evaluation of the carbon performance of industrial enterprises from the perspective of low-carbon transformation. The findings indicate that: (1) From 2010 to 2021, the carbon performance levels of Chinese industrial enterprises displayed a stable upward trend. (2) Across various dimensions from 2010 to 2021, notable achievements in the low-carbon economic dimension were observed in terms of environmental investment and green invention patents, while there remains considerable room for optimising carbon costs. In the environmental management dimension, a disconnect persists between enterprises' environmental awareness and their low-carbon actions; however, there is a gradual increase in the enthusiasm for environmental certifications, and significant progress has been made in implementing emergency response mechanisms. Regarding low-carbon emission reduction, enterprises have significantly enhanced their pollution prevention capabilities, yet improving the energy consumption structure remains a critical challenge for achieving low-carbon production. In the low-carbon social impact dimension, while media and public oversight, as well as government environmental penalties, exert a deterrent effect on corporate environmental governance, their overall effectiveness is insufficient and requires strengthening. (3) From the overall annual performance of various indicators from 2010 to 2021, environmental investment and the implementation of the “three simultaneous” system received notably high scores of 0.055166667 and 0.0403524, respectively, underscoring their significant roles in enhancing the carbon performance levels of Chinese industrial enterprises. In contrast, the penalty degree received the lowest score of 0.0000939, indicating that the government's environmental penalty mechanisms need further improvement and enforcement. These research findings can provide a decision-making foundation for the national dual carbon strategy and support enterprises in achieving sustainable development goals while offering a Chinese perspective for international emissions reduction.