This study investigates the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms, CSR sustainability reporting, and emission performance in BRICS countries. Based on a panel dataset of 862 firms covering the period from 2018 to 2023, this study investigates the impact of audit committee presence, audit committee expertise, board gender diversity, and board members’ sustainability-related skills on firms’ emission performance. We employ fixed effects models and, to address potential endogeneity concerns, two-stage least squares (2SLS) regression models. The results show that audit committee expertise (β = 2.254, p < 0.01) and board-specific sustainability skills (β = 0.129, p < 0.01) significantly enhance emission performance. Moreover, CSR sustainability reporting positively moderates these relationships, with interaction effects showing stronger environmental outcomes for audit expertise (β = 0.083, p < 0.01) and board sustainability skills (β = 0.001, p < 0.1). In contrast, board gender diversity shows an insignificant or diminishing marginal effect when interacted with CSR reporting. Robustness checks using 2SLS confirm the stability of these findings. The study provides novel evidence on how internal governance structures and sustainability disclosure jointly shape environmental responsibility in emerging economies. Policy recommendations are offered to encourage transparent reporting and strengthen governance mechanisms to support climate-related goals.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance has become critical for businesses seeking transparency, sustainability, and stakeholder confidence. However, the extant evidence is equivocal regarding its influence on company performance. Corporate governance may play an important role in determining the efficacy of ESG efforts. Hence, this research investigates the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance, focusing on the moderating role of ESG performance, using unbalanced panel data from 370 Malaysian firms for the period from 2012 to 2023. For analysis of the data, fixed effects estimation, Driscoll–Kraay robust standard errors, and a subsample analysis were used. The results reveal that board expertise and independence enhance firm performance, whereas board gender diversity negatively affects market valuation (Tobin’s Q). Similarly, audit committee expertise shows a negative effect. Further, the results reveal that ESG strengthens the role of board expertise but weakens the influence of audit committee independence. This study offers practical and theoretical insights for policymakers, scholars, and stakeholders seeking to balance sustainability with financial performance, bridging a notable gap in the literature by thoroughly examining the relationship between board gender diversity and ESG performance, and how it affects company performance. This reveals new insights into the strategic significance of diverse leadership in promoting both financial and non-financial results by bridging the gap between corporate governance and sustainability.

This study examines the relationship between renewable energy consumption (REC) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and investigates the moderating role of country-level governance in 39 Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI) economies over the 1996–2020 period. Drawing on institutional and environmental governance theories, this study evaluates whether governance strengthens the environmental benefits of renewable-energy consumption. Unlike previous studies that primarily focus on aggregate governance measures, this study separately examines six governance dimensions: control of corruption, political stability, rule of law, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, and voice and accountability. Using panel data from the World Bank, the analysis employs fixed-effects estimation and validates the findings through robust regression, the generalized method of moments (GMM), and panel-corrected standard error (PCSE) approaches. The results indicate that renewable energy consumption significantly reduces both CO₂ emissions per capita and total CO₂ emissions in the long run. The findings further show that governance significantly moderates the renewable energy–CO₂ emissions relationship, with stronger governance enhancing the emission-reducing effect of renewable energy consumption. Governance mitigates the environmental impacts associated with urbanization and industrialization, highlighting the importance of institutional quality in managing the structural drivers of emissions. The robustness analyses confirm the consistency of the main results across the alternative estimation techniques. This study contributes to the literature by providing evidence of the distinct roles of individual governance dimensions in shaping environmental outcomes in economies actively engaged in renewable energy development. These findings suggest that renewable energy expansion and governance reforms should be pursued simultaneously to achieve more effective carbon emission reduction strategies.

This study serves as a focal point for research into the determinants of digital currency disclosure within the realm of financial technology. It aims to evaluate how this disclosure influences the information content found in financial reports, aligning with the guidelines set by the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The ultimate objective is to enhance the market value of shares in companies listed on the Saudi stock market. To accomplish this, the researcher conducted a survey involving a sample of 150 participants, including accountants, auditors, chief financial officers, and academics specializing in accounting and auditing. Through the utilization of appropriate statistical methods via SPSS, the study provides valuable insights into the impact of digital currency disclosure on financial reports quality within the Saudi stock market. Results show that disclosing the risk management processes for cryptocurrencies and tightening control measures can boost the market value of shares. Transparent disclosure of digital currencies also provides investors with objective assurances on the accuracy of financial data, reducing instances of fraud and earnings manipulation by management. The field study further unveiled notable discrepancies among participants' perspectives on the nature and drivers of digital currencies as financial technology tools. Differences were observed in the impact of digital currencies on accounting frameworks and practices, as well as the varying opinions on disclosure requirements. Interestingly, the study highlighted the moral implications of disclosing digital currencies on stock price movements in the Saudi stock market. Ultimately, the research emphasized the significant influence of digital currency disclosure determinants on rationalizing investors' decisions in the stock market.