Using the pollution information transparency index (PITI) as a measure of environmental information disclosure by the local governments in China, we find that the higher the pollution information transparency, the more likely green innovations are to occur. Channel tests show that environmental information disclosure by the local governments promotes corporate green innovations through political pressure channel and law enforcement channel. Moreover, the environmental information disclosure has long-term effects on corporate green innovations, and the relationship between environmental information disclosure and corporate green innovations is more pronounced with firms owned by local governments and private firms than central government-owned firms. We also show that firms with fewer agency problems are inclined to have more green innovations.

This study examines the association between the globalised board of directors and corporate environmental performance, and then investigates the moderating effect of regional green development on the above association. Using a sample from the Chinese stock market during the period of 2008–2016, the findings reveal that the globalised board of directors is significantly positively associated with corporate environmental performance, suggesting that the globalised board of directors can play an important role in strengthening the moral and strategic motivations of corporate environmental responsibility, and enhance corporate environmental performance. Further, regional green development attenuates the positive relation between the globalised board of directors and corporate environmental performance. Above findings are robust to a variety of sensitivity tests and our main conclusions are still valid after controlling for the potential endogeneity between the globalised board of directors and corporate environmental performance. Interestingly, additional tests reveal that the positive effect of foreign directors on corporate environmental performance is more pronounced for those from the countries (regions) with shorter time zone difference, stronger investor protection and better performance in environmental responsibilities.