The Impact of Environmental Information Disclosure on Chinese Firms' Environmental and Economic Performance in the 21st Century: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Firms can cause significant environmental and economic problems; thus, they must strengthen their environmental management and information disclosure, which is paramount to improving their economic and environmental performance. Firms must report the consequences of their operations on the environment and economy; however, firms may question the benefits of becoming green and disclosing environmental information. These questions intrigue many scholars. This current systematic review investigates the impact of environmental information disclosure on economic and environmental performance among Chinese firms. A systematic review is employed to identify studies on the impact of environmental information disclosure on firms' economic and environmental performance in China. Studies are identified by searching four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Elsevier/Science Direct) between May 25 and June 2, 2021, for articles published in English spanning 2000 to 2020. In total, 13 articles/studies are included in this review. Most (9, or 69.2%) studies reveal a positive relationship between environmental information disclosure and measured outcome. The review shows that environmental information disclosure practices among firms tremendously increase their productivity and profitability. Furthermore, a healthier environment (in terms of reduced mono oxide emissions) is noticed among cities with strict environmental disclosure adherence.