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<p>The convergence of digital transformation and environmental sustainability is reshaping strategic decision-making across heavy industries. Yet, the role of executive digital orientation in enhancing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) outcomes within high-polluting sectors remains underexplored. This study examines how top management’s digital orientation influences ESG performance in Chinese A-share mining-listed companies (MLCs) from 2010 to 2024. Drawing upon the upper echelons theory and dynamic capability framework, we employ text-based analytics on annual reports and management discussion sections to construct an executive digital-orientation index, capturing leaders’ strategic emphasis on digital technologies such as automation, big data, and smart governance. The empirical results indicate that executives’ digital orientation exerts a positive and statistically significant impact on overall ESG performance, particularly strengthening the governance and environmental pillars. Further analysis reveals that green innovation capability mediates this relationship, suggesting that digitally oriented leaders enhance ESG outcomes by enabling process innovation, energy efficiency, and transparent disclosure. Moreover, government green subsidies and board technological diversity positively moderate this effect, amplifying the transformation potential of digitally driven leadership. The findings extend ESG and digitalization literature by identifying executive digital orientation as a critical pathway for embedding sustainability into the operational and strategic cores of mining enterprises. The study provides actionable insights for regulators and firms seeking to integrate digital governance and green innovation strategies to achieve high-quality, low-carbon industrial transformation.</p>

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Digital green governance and ESG outcomes: how executive digital orientation drives sustainable transformation in China’s mining enterprises

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月10日

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  • Muhammad Umair,
  • Fatima Gulzar,
  • Saeed Ur Rahman

摘要

The convergence of digital transformation and environmental sustainability is reshaping strategic decision-making across heavy industries. Yet, the role of executive digital orientation in enhancing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) outcomes within high-polluting sectors remains underexplored. This study examines how top management’s digital orientation influences ESG performance in Chinese A-share mining-listed companies (MLCs) from 2010 to 2024. Drawing upon the upper echelons theory and dynamic capability framework, we employ text-based analytics on annual reports and management discussion sections to construct an executive digital-orientation index, capturing leaders’ strategic emphasis on digital technologies such as automation, big data, and smart governance. The empirical results indicate that executives’ digital orientation exerts a positive and statistically significant impact on overall ESG performance, particularly strengthening the governance and environmental pillars. Further analysis reveals that green innovation capability mediates this relationship, suggesting that digitally oriented leaders enhance ESG outcomes by enabling process innovation, energy efficiency, and transparent disclosure. Moreover, government green subsidies and board technological diversity positively moderate this effect, amplifying the transformation potential of digitally driven leadership. The findings extend ESG and digitalization literature by identifying executive digital orientation as a critical pathway for embedding sustainability into the operational and strategic cores of mining enterprises. The study provides actionable insights for regulators and firms seeking to integrate digital governance and green innovation strategies to achieve high-quality, low-carbon industrial transformation.