The Impact of ESG Performance on the Firm Valuation

Abstract

ESG, an acronym for environmental, social, and corporate governance, represents a framework for assessing the sustainability and societal impact of enterprises. The environmental dimension evaluates how businesses affect and manage their relationship with the natural environment, while the social dimension emphasizes their influence and responsibilities toward society. Corporate governance, on the other hand, examines the internal management structures and decision-making mechanisms that guide enterprises. In recent years, crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic have underscored the importance of businesses adopting greater social responsibility. As a result, the evaluation of companies through an ESG lens has gained prominence, offering a pathway for enterprises to optimize their industrial structures while contributing to the broader connotations of sustainable development. Furthermore, the rising importance of green finance has accelerated the development and integration of ESG principles worldwide. As a critical component of the green finance ecosystem, ESG not only serves as a tool for corporate performance evaluation but also plays a pivotal role in driving the global transition toward sustainable economic practices.