Can Civilized City Construction Promote Enterprise Green Innovation?

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Abstract

1. The research background section is too long, so it is recommended to give a brief description in one or two sentences.

2. The enlightenment and significance at the end of the summary are not deep enough.

Introduction

3. The introduction lacks a clear theoretical basis.

4. The research contribution is not specific and profound enough, and lacks the difference from the existing research.

5. It is suggested that the author use the form of a question to ask the scientific question that the manuscript needs to solve.

6. Since the acronyms "EGI" and "CCC" in this part appear for the first time in the manuscript, their full names should be expressed and explained accordingly.

Literature review

7. The literature review did not point out the limitations of scholars' research in this field, lacking clear academic logic and criticism.

8. There is only one research hypothesis in this part. Can we consider setting the influence mechanism (the intensity of regional environmental regulations and environmental subsidy levels) as research hypothesis 2?

Methodology and data

9. It lacks an explanation of the merits, applicability and reasons for not choosing alternative methods.

10. In addition, some important literature in the field of Difference-in-Differences is missing.

e.g.,

Goodman-Bacon, A. (2021). Difference-in-differences with variation in treatment timing. Journal of Econometrics, 225(2), 254-277.

Li, X., Huang, Y., Li, X., & Liu, X. (2023). Mechanism of smart city policy on the carbon emissions of construction enterprises in the Yangtze River Economic Belt: a perspective of the PESTEL model and the pollution halo hypothesis. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 10, 580.

etc.

11. Please add appropriate comments to the data source section.

Empirical analysis

12. The theoretical analysis suggests that CCC policy…... thereby promoting EGI. There is no theoretical analysis of how environmental regulations and subsidies promote green innovation.

13. This manuscript used the median of the per capita GDP for each city as a benchmark, divides the sample into two groups: Is there any reference?

Discussion

14. It is suggested that the author add a discussion section after the result analysis: re-discuss whether other similar studies are consistent with the research results and analyze the reasons if they are inconsistent.

Conclusions

15. Please add that the conclusion lacks policy recommendations.

In summary, the authors are advised to carefully revise this manuscript in light of the above comments. I sincerely look forward to receiving the revised version.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer :

Thanks for your comments concerning our manuscript entitled “Can Civilized City Construction Promote Enterprise Green Innovation?” (Sustainability-2870282). Those comments are all valuable and very helpful for improving the quality of our paper. We have studied deal with comments carefully and have made correction which we hope meet with approval. The main corrections in the paper and the responds to the reviewer’s comments are as flowing:

Point 1:  The research background section is too long, so it is recommended to give a brief description in one or two sentences.

Response 1: Thank you very much for pointing this out, it was an oversight on our part and we have rewritten the research background section as follows:

Existing research shows that when facing the trade-off between economic benefits and green innovation, enterprises often prioritize economic gains, and how to promote Enterprise Green Innovation (EGI) has become a pressing issue that needs to be solved at this stage.

 

Point 2:    The enlightenment and significance at the end of the summary are not deep enough.

Response 2: Thank you very much for your suggestion, we have rewritten the end of the summary section as follows:

 This finding provides lessons for advancing enterprise sustainability strategies and new perspectives for global urban governance policy formulation and implementation.

 

Point 3:   The introduction lacks a clear theoretical basis.

Response 3: Thank you very much for pointing out the problem, which is one of our research deficiencies, and we have rewritten the first paragraph of the introduction section as follows:

Motivation for EGI is multifaceted, intertwined with various factors, and emerges as a proactive response by enterprises to increasingly critical environmental issues and constantly changing market conditions[1-3]. Through green innovation, enterprises can attain comprehensive and long-term advantages in sustainability, market competition, and regulatory compliance.[4] Existing research indicates that the driving forces behind EGI stem from considerations related to the environment, society, regulations, and the market[5,6].First, stakeholder theory suggests that the image of enterprises in society is increasingly in the spotlight, and that public concern about environmental issues in particular has pushed enterprises to take on more environmental responsibility[7-9]. Meanwhile, in the face of increasing environmental requirements, enterprises, under pressure from multiple stakeholders, will release positive signals to stakeholders by adopting green innovations to show that they are playing an active role in sustainable development, reducing environmental pollution, wasting resources, and improving the efficiency of resource utilization, so as to build up an environmentally friendly corporate image[10]. Secondly, legitimacy theory suggests that governments and international organizations continue to strengthen the formulation and implementation of environmental regulations, which puts more stringent environmental requirements on enterprises, and that if enterprises want to achieve long-term sustainable development, they must follow the legal requirements and implement environmental protection measures such as green innovation to ensure institutional recognition and alleviate the legitimacy pressure[11,12]. Concurrently, intensifying market competition compels enterprises to continually enhance the environmental quality of their products and service levels. This not only helps consolidate market share but also attracts more environmentally conscious consumers, boosting the competitive edge of enterprises in the market.

 

Point 4: The research contribution is not specific and profound enough, and lacks the difference from the existing research.

Response 4: Thank you very much for pointing out the problem, which is our mistake, to which we have revised the research contribution, as follows:

In light of this, this paper will delve into the question of "whether CCC can promote EGI." It will utilize the DID model to test whether this policy can promote EGI and uncover its underlying mechanisms. The marginal contributions of this paper are twofold. Firstly, This paper provides more specific and practical analytical experience for future research by exploring in depth the mechanism and effect of CCC on EGI against the background of the current global environmental problems that are becoming increasingly serious and sustainable development has become a global consensus. Compared with previous studies, this paper not only focuses on the implementation effect of the policy on the surface, but also digs deeper into the mechanism and influence path behind the policy, thus providing a new perspective to deepen our understanding of the relationship between urban governance and corporate sustainable development. Secondly, Through the quantitative assessment of CCC promotion of EGI, this paper not only summarizes the successful experiences and practices, but also identifies the existing problems and challenges, and puts forward corresponding policy recommendations and reform directions. These specific and practical suggestions not only help to improve the implementation effect of the current policy, but also provide an important reference for the formulation and adjustment of future related policies, and provide in-depth thinking and specific guidance for the promotion of green transformation of enterprises and sustainable development of cities.

Point 5:  It is suggested that the author use the form of a question to ask the scientific question that the manuscript needs to solve.

Response 5: Thank you very much for your suggestion, we have presented the research question in the form of a question in the third paragraph of the introduction. The details are as follows:

Therefore, at this stage, there is an urgent need to clarify whether CCC can promote EGI and what is the mechanism of its influence?

Point 6:  Since the acronyms "EGI" and "CCC" in this part appear for the first time in the manuscript, their full names should be expressed and explained accordingly

Response 6: Thank you very much for pointing out the problem, we have made a display of abbreviations and full names in the abstract section.

Point 7:  The literature review did not point out the limitations of scholars' research in this field, lacking clear academic logic and criticism.

Response 7: Thank you very much for pointing out the shortcomings, we have revised the literature review section, the details of the revision are as follows:

The relationship between urban construction and EGI is a core issue currently receiving significant attention in the field of sustainable development. As the central hub of human activities, the level of urban development directly affects the distribution of global resources and the sustainability of the environment[32,33]. Enterprises, as the driving force behind urban economic systems, not only impact their own competitiveness through their performance in green innovation but also profoundly shape the ecological landscape of cities[34,35]. Firstly, scientifically and reasonably governed cities and the construction of green infrastructure play a crucial role in reducing urban resource consumption and environmental pollution. This includes measures such as increasing urban green spaces, optimizing transportation systems, and introducing renewable energy sources. These actions not only enhance the ecological environment of cities but also provide a more favorable business environment for enterprises, stimulating their active participation in urban construction.

Secondly, EGI, as a core element of corporate social responsibility, has long been a focus of scholarly research. Existing studies elucidate the pivotal role of green innovation in the sustainability of enterprises[36]. Enterprises can enhance their competitiveness and gain consumer recognition in the market by introducing clean technologies, optimizing production processes, and driving the research and development of green products[37]. These research findings reveal the positive impact of enterprises actively engaging in green innovation on their own development and the overall green upgrading of the industry chain. Simultaneously, collaborative innovation between cities and enterprises is considered a key mechanism for promoting sustainable development[38,39]. City governments can provide a better external environment for enterprises by formulating environmental policies, offering incentives, and supporting green technology research and development, thus reducing the costs of enterprises engaging in green innovation[40]. This collaborative innovation mechanism fosters a positive interaction between cities and enterprises during the sustainable development process, mutually propelling the progress of green development.

CCC, as an important means of promoting sustainable urban development, has received much attention from scholars in recent years. However, although a number of studies have been conducted to explore the effects and impacts of CCC implementation, there are still some shortcomings[41]. First, there is a relative lack of current assessment of the implementation effects of CCC, especially for its specific impact in promoting EGI has not been systematically studied. Existing studies are often limited to policy advocacy and statistics of surface data, lacking in-depth analysis of actual policy implementation as well as EGI behavior[42]. Second, there is a lack of research frameworks and theoretical models. Although existing studies have explored related areas such as urban governance, corporate social responsibility, and innovation theory, they often lack systematic theoretical guidance, resulting in research results that lack depth and breadth. In addition, the research methodology is relatively single, often limited to qualitative or quantitative analysis, and lacks multi-perspective and multi-level methodological innovation[43]. The complex mechanisms and pathways by which CCC drives EGI have not been sufficiently studied.

In summary, existing literature reveals the close and intricate relationship between urban construction and EGI. Despite the existence of these theoretical frameworks, there remains a research gap in the current literature: a lack of in-depth investigation into the mechanisms and approaches through which CCC specifically promotes EGI. Existing research often focuses on a singular perspective, either urban construction or EGI, lacking a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the two. Nevertheless, from the available research, it is evident that CCC provides space for enterprises' green development. Scientific planning and the construction of environmentally friendly infrastructure, such as sewage treatment plants and waste disposal facilities, provide a greener production foundation for enterprises, making it easier for them to obtain green certifications and enhancing their competitiveness in the green market. However, the actual effectiveness of these efforts is yet to be determined.

Point 8:  There is only one research hypothesis in this part. Can we consider setting the influence mechanism (the intensity of regional environmental regulations and environmental subsidy levels) as research hypothesis 2?

Response 8: Thank you very much for pointing out the shortcomings, we have revised the research hypotheses section and added hypothesis 2, which is revised as follows:

Civilization has the most fundamental impact on societal development by shaping ideal beliefs, moral concepts, and value systems. The advancement of urban civilization can reshape the collective perception of social responsibility by governments, enterprises, and society as a whole[44]. Firstly, the development of urban civilization can innovate the governance perspective of the government, enhancing the institutional supply of social responsibility for enterprises at all levels. On one hand, the improvement of enterprise social responsibility relies on the refinement of governmental governance perspectives[45,46]. The higher the level of urban civilization, the higher the effectiveness of ideological concepts and institutional governance in its regulatory rules. On the other hand, the supply of democratic, scientific, and standardized external institutions prompts enterprises to shape new organizational cultures, structures, and conventions, thereby propelling enterprises towards the sharing of social values[47,48]. Secondly, the development of urban civilization can cultivate the altruistic views of enterprises, enhancing the intrinsic motivation of enterprise owners and executives to fulfill social responsibilities. Altruism suggests that the pure moral cultivation of enterprise owners or the ethical culture within an enterprise can compel it to shoulder social responsibilities. Thirdly, the development of urban civilization can foster public values, enhancing the overall societal supervision and constraints on enterprise social responsibility. The development of civilization can shape public values regarding fairness, justice, empathy, and friendliness, inspiring public awareness of rights, responsibilities, and the monitoring of enterprise behavior[49]. On this basis, citizens' values can converge to form societal consensus, guiding public opinion through media, networks, and other channels, and forming constraints on enterprise behavior under reputation mechanisms. Numerous studies have highlighted the advantages of social supervision, such as widespread foundation, numerous channels, and low costs, which can alleviate information asymmetry issues between governments and enterprises, constraining tax compliance, charitable donations, and environmental governance behavior.

The CCC has profound implications for promoting EGI. The essence of this relationship lies in the higher demands that urban construction places on the environmental and operational practices of enterprises, simultaneously creating more market opportunities for enterprises[50]. Firstly, as urban attention to environmental protection and sustainability continues to rise, CCC advocates stricter environmental standards and requirements. This compels enterprises not only to comply with more stringent environmental regulations but also to surpass these requirements actively, adopting and promoting green technological innovations. In order to meet or exceed urban environmental standards, enterprises must increase investment in green innovation, optimize production processes, reduce resource wastage, and steer products and services towards more environmentally sustainable directions. Secondly, governments in CCC often formulate a series of green policies, providing incentives such as rewards, tax reductions, and financial support to enterprises. This policy support not only lowers the costs of enterprises engaging in green innovation but also provides greater economic returns, making green innovation more attractive. Encouraged by such policies, enterprises are more willing to engage in green technology research and development, leading to the continuous emergence of green innovation. For example, government subsidies or tax incentives for enterprises that use renewable energy will encourage them to adopt more renewable energy technologies. By granting subsidies or incentives to enterprises for the application of green technologies and the research and development of resource-saving and environmentally friendly products, the Government can stimulate enterprises to actively engage in green innovation. Such a subsidy policy can reduce the economic cost for enterprises to invest in green innovation, thus increasing the incentive for EGI.

Furthermore, CCC creates broader market opportunities for enterprises. As urban residents' awareness of environmental protection and sustainability increases, the demand for green products and services also grows. Through green innovation, enterprises can better meet market demands, enhance product competitiveness, and expand market share. The expansion of these market opportunities provides enterprises with better development prospects and becomes an intrinsic driving force for EGI. Additionally, CCC emphasizes social responsibility and sustainable development, gradually making enterprises realize that participating in the ecological construction of cities not only provides a competitive advantage in business but also establishes a positive social image. Through this process, enterprises gradually recognize that green innovation is not only a contribution to the environment but also a fulfillment of their own social responsibility, helping to establish a positive image in society. Therefore, CCC, through various aspects such as raising environmental standards, policy support, and creating market opportunities, stimulates enterprises to actively engage in green innovation. Based on this, Hypothesis 1 and Hypothesis 2 is proposed:

Hypothesis 1: CCC can promote EGI.

Hypothesis 2: CCC will promote EGI by increasing the intensity of environmental regulation and environmental protection subsidies for enterprises.

Point 9:   It lacks an explanation of the merits, applicability and reasons for not choosing alternative methods.

Response 9: Thank you very much for pointing out the shortcomings, we have added that content in the modeling section, as follows:

The empirical research in this paper considers how to accurately identify the impact of the CCC policy on the level of EGI. Currently, most relevant studies evaluating policy effects employ the DID method. This method can help mitigate endogeneity issues to identify the net effect of the CCC policy on EGI as accurately as possible[53,54]. DID is applicable to long-term panel data and requires policy interventions to be temporally identifiable, and can effectively control for endogeneity problems and selection bias, with the advantage of being able to effectively control for time-invariant individual characteristics and unobserved time-varying factors, thus reducing endogeneity problems and improving the reliability and credibility of research results[55]. First, DID can help researchers solve the endogeneity problem. When analyzing policy impacts, there are often many individual characteristics or time trends that may affect the results. By comparing the changes of the same entity before and after the implementation of policies, the double differencing method can exclude the interference of individual fixed characteristics and time trends, thus effectively controlling the endogeneity problem[56]. Second, DID can reduce the impact of selection bias. In research, there are often some individual characteristics that may affect the results, and the double difference method can better control these individual differences, thus reducing the impact of selection bias on the research results. In addition, DID is more reliable in causal inference. By comparing the changes in the same entity before and after the implementation of the policy, the impact of the policy on EGI can be assessed more accurately, reducing the potential impact of external shocks or policy changes on the results, thus improving the reliability of causal inference.

Point 10:   In addition, some important literature in the field of Difference-in-Differences is missing.e.g.,Goodman-Bacon, A. (2021). Difference-in-differences with variation in treatment timing. Journal of Econometrics, 225(2), 254-277.Li, X., Huang, Y., Li, X., & Liu, X. (2023). Mechanism of smart city policy on the carbon emissions of construction enterprises in the Yangtze River Economic Belt: a perspective of the PESTEL model and the pollution halo hypothesis. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 10, 580.etc.

Response 10: Thank you very much for the references you gave, we referenced and cited these papers.

Point 11:  Please add appropriate comments to the data source section.

Response 11: Thank you very much for pointing out the problem, which was overlooked, and adding an explanation of the data sources in the explanation of variables section as follows:

Enterprise-related data and regional economic data are from WIND database, CSMAR database, and China Urban Statistical Yearbook.

Point 12:  The theoretical analysis suggests that CCC policy…... thereby promoting EGI. There is no theoretical analysis of how environmental regulations and subsidies promote green innovation.

Response 12: Thank you very much for pointing out the problem, it was something we overlooked and we have added this analysis to the hypothesis section as follows:

The CCC has profound implications for promoting EGI. The essence of this relationship lies in the higher demands that urban construction places on the environmental and operational practices of enterprises, simultaneously creating more market opportunities for enterprises[50]. Firstly, as urban attention to environmental protection and sustainability continues to rise, CCC advocates stricter environmental standards and requirements. This compels enterprises not only to comply with more stringent environmental regulations but also to surpass these requirements actively, adopting and promoting green technological innovations. In order to meet or exceed urban environmental standards, enterprises must increase investment in green innovation, optimize production processes, reduce resource wastage, and steer products and services towards more environmentally sustainable directions. Secondly, governments in CCC often formulate a series of green policies, providing incentives such as rewards, tax reductions, and financial support to enterprises. This policy support not only lowers the costs of enterprises engaging in green innovation but also provides greater economic returns, making green innovation more attractive. Encouraged by such policies, enterprises are more willing to engage in green technology research and development, leading to the continuous emergence of green innovation. For example, government subsidies or tax incentives for enterprises that use renewable energy will encourage them to adopt more renewable energy technologies. By granting subsidies or incentives to enterprises for the application of green technologies and the research and development of resource-saving and environmentally friendly products, the Government can stimulate enterprises to actively engage in green innovation. Such a subsidy policy can reduce the economic cost for enterprises to invest in green innovation, thus increasing the incentive for EGI.

Point 13:  This manuscript used the median of the per capita GDP for each city as a benchmark, divides the sample into two groups: Is there any reference?

Response 13: Thank you very much for pointing out the problem, it was that we didn't explain what the motivation for doing so was, so we've revised the section as follows:

This study, using the median of the per capita GDP for each city as a benchmark, divides the sample into two groups: developed economic regions and underdeveloped economic regions, and subsequently conducts group regression[78]. This approach is often used in heterogeneity analysis, and its main purpose is to explore the difference in the impact of CCC on EGI at different economic levels, so as to provide more accurate guidance for policy formulation and implementation. Policies and measures can be adjusted according to the characteristics and needs of different regions to improve the implementation effect of policies. The results, as shown in columns (7) and (8) of Table 6, indicate that the policy effect of CCC on enhancing EGI levels is not significant for enterprises located in underdeveloped regions, while for enterprises in developed regions, the DID coefficient is significantly positive. This may be attributed to the relatively few outstanding enterprises in economically underdeveloped areas. Green innovation activities require the consumption of internal resources within enterprises and often necessitate a foundation in operational performance. Consequently, enterprises in these regions may face challenges in undertaking green innovation activities.

Point 14:  It is suggested that the author add a discussion section after the result analysis: re-discuss whether other similar studies are consistent with the research results and analyze the reasons if they are inconsistent.

Response 14: Thank you very much for pointing out the problem, it was the section we were missing and we have added a subsection to the results section to discuss it as follows:

5.3. Discussion

First of all, green innovation, as one of the important strategies for enterprises to cope with environmental problems and market changes, is crucial for their sustainable development. Through in-depth research on the impact of CCC on EGI, we can provide reference and guidance for enterprises and governments to promote the realization of the goals of sustainable development and environmental protection[84]. Second, this study introduces CCC as a research object, which expands the research perspective on the mechanism of urban governance policy's influence on corporate behavior, and has a certain degree of research innovation[85]. The results of the study show that CCC promotes EGI by strengthening environmental regulation efforts and increasing environmental subsidies.This study is different from previous studies in comparison.

The consistency with other studies is that this study confirms the positive impact of CCC on EGI, which is in line with some of the findings of previous studies. Many studies have already emphasized the role of policies in incentivizing environmentally friendly business behavior, which in turn promotes the development of green innovation in firms[86]. Meanwhile, the findings suggest that environmental regulation and environmental subsidies are important drivers in civilized city building policies, which is also consistent with previous studies. Previous studies have pointed out that government environmental regulations and incentives can effectively guide enterprises to adopt green technologies and innovations[87].

The difference with other studies is that this study introduces CCC as the object of study, expanding the research perspective on the mechanism of urban governance policies' influence on firms' behavior[88]. Compared with traditional urban development policies, CCC pays more attention to environmental protection and sustainable development, so the impact on EGI may have special characteristics. Meanwhile, the findings point out that CCC has a significant promotional effect on the quantity of EGIs, but the effect on the quality of EGIs is not yet significant[89]. This finding provides a new perspective on the impact of policies on the quality of EGI and provides a direction for further research in the future.

Point 15:  Please add that the conclusion lacks policy recommendations.

Response 15: Thank you very much for pointing out the problem, it was the section we were missing and we have added a subsection to the conclusion section as follows:

6.2. Policy recommendations

Based on the results of this study, some policy recommendations for CCC can be put forward to promote the further development of EGI: First, the government can encourage enterprises to increase their investment in green technology R&D and innovation by providing economic incentives such as environmental protection subsidies and tax concessions. Especially for green product production and energy saving and emission reduction, the government should increase subsidies to reduce the cost of enterprise innovation and increase the enthusiasm of enterprises for green innovation. Secondly, the government should also strengthen the supervision and evaluation of the implementation of CCC. It should establish a sound regulatory system, strengthen the supervision and inspection of enterprises' environmental protection behaviors, and impose severe penalties on enterprises violating environmental regulations to ensure the implementation of the policy. At the same time, the government can encourage enterprises to cooperate with scientific research institutions and universities to strengthen green technology innovation and transformation. Through the establishment of scientific and technological innovation platforms, the establishment of scientific research project funding, etc., to promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements into actual productivity, and promote the rapid development of EGI. Finally, the government can strengthen the information disclosure and publicity of enterprises' green innovation achievements to enhance the public's awareness and recognition of enterprises' environmental protection behaviors. Through the establishment of a green product certification system and the release of corporate environmental behavior rankings, enterprises are guided to pay more attention to environmental protection and green development.

Finally, thank you again for your valuable comments, which are very useful to improve the quality of our paper.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1) I suggest explaining better the contributions and aims throughout the work. 2) The robustness checks should be added. 3) The policy implications should be expanded both theoretically and empirically. 4) I recommend adding some studies about green finance-green innovation in this work such as "Driving green bond market through energy prices, gold prices and green energy stocks: evidence from a nonlinear approach. Economic research-Ekonomska istraživanja, 2022, 35(1), 6479-6499".

Comments on the Quality of English Language

It's good.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer :

Thanks for your comments concerning our manuscript entitled “Can Civilized City Construction Promote Enterprise Green Innovation?” (Sustainability-2870282). Those comments are all valuable and very helpful for improving the quality of our paper. We have studied deal with comments carefully and have made correction which we hope meet with approval. The main corrections in the paper and the responds to the reviewer’s comments are as flowing:

Point 1:  I suggest explaining better the contributions and aims throughout the work.

Response 1: Thank you very much for pointing out the problem, we have revised the research contribution section to highlight the research contribution by comparing it with existing studies. In addition, we have also highlighted the contribution and purpose of the study's findings in 5.3. The details are as follows:

 Research contribution: In light of this, this paper will delve into the question of "whether CCC can promote EGI." It will utilize the DID model to test whether this policy can promote EGI and uncover its underlying mechanisms. The marginal contributions of this paper are twofold. Firstly, This paper provides more specific and practical analytical experience for future research by exploring in depth the mechanism and effect of CCC on EGI against the background of the current global environmental problems that are becoming increasingly serious and sustainable development has become a global consensus. Compared with previous studies, this paper not only focuses on the implementation effect of the policy on the surface, but also digs deeper into the mechanism and influence path behind the policy, thus providing a new perspective to deepen our understanding of the relationship between urban governance and corporate sustainable development. Secondly, Through the quantitative assessment of CCC promotion of EGI, this paper not only summarizes the successful experiences and practices, but also identifies the existing problems and challenges, and puts forward corresponding policy recommendations and reform directions. These specific and practical suggestions not only help to improve the implementation effect of the current policy, but also provide an important reference for the formulation and adjustment of future related policies, and provide in-depth thinking and specific guidance for the promotion of green transformation of enterprises and sustainable development of cities.

5.3: First of all, green innovation, as one of the important strategies for enterprises to cope with environmental problems and market changes, is crucial for their sustainable development. Through in-depth research on the impact of CCC on EGI, we can provide reference and guidance for enterprises and governments to promote the realization of the goals of sustainable development and environmental protection[84]. Second, this study introduces CCC as a research object, which expands the research perspective on the mechanism of urban governance policy's influence on corporate behavior, and has a certain degree of research innovation[85]. The results of the study show that CCC promotes EGI by strengthening environmental regulation efforts and increasing environmental subsidies.This study is different from previous studies in comparison.

The consistency with other studies is that this study confirms the positive impact of CCC on EGI, which is in line with some of the findings of previous studies. Many studies have already emphasized the role of policies in incentivizing environmentally friendly business behavior, which in turn promotes the development of green innovation in firms[86]. Meanwhile, the findings suggest that environmental regulation and environmental subsidies are important drivers in civilized city building policies, which is also consistent with previous studies. Previous studies have pointed out that government environmental regulations and incentives can effectively guide enterprises to adopt green technologies and innovations[87].

The difference with other studies is that this study introduces CCC as the object of study, expanding the research perspective on the mechanism of urban governance policies' influence on firms' behavior[88]. Compared with traditional urban development policies, CCC pays more attention to environmental protection and sustainable development, so the impact on EGI may have special characteristics. Meanwhile, the findings point out that CCC has a significant promotional effect on the quantity of EGIs, but the effect on the quality of EGIs is not yet significant[89]. This finding provides a new perspective on the impact of policies on the quality of EGI and provides a direction for further research in the future.

Point 2:  The robustness checks should be added.

Response 2: Thank you very much for your suggestion, we have added robustness tests, there are currently five robustness tests, namely: parallel trend test, placebo test, change policy implementation time, replacement of explanatory variables and PSM-DID.

 

Point 3:  The policy implications should be expanded both theoretically and empirically.

Response 3: Thank you very much for pointing out the problems, we have added the theoretical analysis in the introduction, the literature review to supplement the research deficiencies, the derivation of mechanisms in the research hypotheses section, the discussion in the Results section, and the policy recommendations in the Conclusion section. These additions are all statements of impact on the theoretical and empirical sections.

Point 4: I recommend adding some studies about green finance-green innovation in this work such as "Driving green bond market through energy prices, gold prices and green energy stocks: evidence from a nonlinear approach. Economic research-Ekonomska istraživanja, 2022, 35(1), 6479-6499".

Response 4: Thank you very much for the reference you gave, it was very informative for our revision and we have cited the paper in our article.

Finally, thank you again for your valuable comments, which are very useful to improve the quality of our paper.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

Please answer the following questions and revise your paper according to them as much as possible.

1. What are the main drivers behind Green Innovation within enterprises, as highlighted in the text?
2. How do enterprises typically prioritize between economic gains and green innovation, according to the text?
3. What specific challenges does the text identify in promoting Enterprise Green Innovation (EGI)?
4. What is China's Civilized City Construction (CCC) policy, and how does it relate to enterprise environmental behaviors?
5. How does the CCC policy aim to address the trade-off between economic benefits and green innovation within enterprises?
6. What methodology does the study employ to investigate the impact of the CCC policy on EGI?
7. What are the key findings regarding the relationship between the CCC policy and EGI, as revealed by the Difference-in-Differences (DID) model?
8. What are the mechanisms through which the CCC policy promotes EGI, according to the research findings?
9. What implications do the research findings hold for cities and enterprises in terms of EGI and policy governance?
10. How can the insights gained from this study inform the formulation and implementation of future urban governance policies related to EGI?

   

 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer :

Thanks for your comments concerning our manuscript entitled “Can Civilized City Construction Promote Enterprise Green Innovation?” (Sustainability-2870282). Those comments are all valuable and very helpful for improving the quality of our paper. We have studied deal with comments carefully and have made correction which we hope meet with approval. The main corrections in the paper and the responds to the reviewer’s comments are as flowing:

Point 1:  What are the main drivers behind Green Innovation within enterprises, as highlighted in the text?

Response 1: The drivers found in this paper are mainly environmental regulation efforts and companies' environmental subsidies. Thank you very much for your question, we found that we did not explain clearly in the research hypotheses section, so we modified the research hypotheses and the modification is as follows:

Civilization has the most fundamental impact on societal development by shaping ideal beliefs, moral concepts, and value systems. The advancement of urban civilization can reshape the collective perception of social responsibility by governments, enterprises, and society as a whole[44]. Firstly, the development of urban civilization can innovate the governance perspective of the government, enhancing the institutional supply of social responsibility for enterprises at all levels. On one hand, the improvement of enterprise social responsibility relies on the refinement of governmental governance perspectives[45,46]. The higher the level of urban civilization, the higher the effectiveness of ideological concepts and institutional governance in its regulatory rules. On the other hand, the supply of democratic, scientific, and standardized external institutions prompts enterprises to shape new organizational cultures, structures, and conventions, thereby propelling enterprises towards the sharing of social values[47,48]. Secondly, the development of urban civilization can cultivate the altruistic views of enterprises, enhancing the intrinsic motivation of enterprise owners and executives to fulfill social responsibilities. Altruism suggests that the pure moral cultivation of enterprise owners or the ethical culture within an enterprise can compel it to shoulder social responsibilities. Thirdly, the development of urban civilization can foster public values, enhancing the overall societal supervision and constraints on enterprise social responsibility. The development of civilization can shape public values regarding fairness, justice, empathy, and friendliness, inspiring public awareness of rights, responsibilities, and the monitoring of enterprise behavior[49]. On this basis, citizens' values can converge to form societal consensus, guiding public opinion through media, networks, and other channels, and forming constraints on enterprise behavior under reputation mechanisms. Numerous studies have highlighted the advantages of social supervision, such as widespread foundation, numerous channels, and low costs, which can alleviate information asymmetry issues between governments and enterprises, constraining tax compliance, charitable donations, and environmental governance behavior.

The CCC has profound implications for promoting EGI. The essence of this relationship lies in the higher demands that urban construction places on the environmental and operational practices of enterprises, simultaneously creating more market opportunities for enterprises[50]. Firstly, as urban attention to environmental protection and sustainability continues to rise, CCC advocates stricter environmental standards and requirements. This compels enterprises not only to comply with more stringent environmental regulations but also to surpass these requirements actively, adopting and promoting green technological innovations. In order to meet or exceed urban environmental standards, enterprises must increase investment in green innovation, optimize production processes, reduce resource wastage, and steer products and services towards more environmentally sustainable directions. Secondly, governments in CCC often formulate a series of green policies, providing incentives such as rewards, tax reductions, and financial support to enterprises. This policy support not only lowers the costs of enterprises engaging in green innovation but also provides greater economic returns, making green innovation more attractive. Encouraged by such policies, enterprises are more willing to engage in green technology research and development, leading to the continuous emergence of green innovation. For example, government subsidies or tax incentives for enterprises that use renewable energy will encourage them to adopt more renewable energy technologies. By granting subsidies or incentives to enterprises for the application of green technologies and the research and development of resource-saving and environmentally friendly products, the Government can stimulate enterprises to actively engage in green innovation. Such a subsidy policy can reduce the economic cost for enterprises to invest in green innovation, thus increasing the incentive for EGI.

Furthermore, CCC creates broader market opportunities for enterprises. As urban residents' awareness of environmental protection and sustainability increases, the demand for green products and services also grows. Through green innovation, enterprises can better meet market demands, enhance product competitiveness, and expand market share. The expansion of these market opportunities provides enterprises with better development prospects and becomes an intrinsic driving force for EGI. Additionally, CCC emphasizes social responsibility and sustainable development, gradually making enterprises realize that participating in the ecological construction of cities not only provides a competitive advantage in business but also establishes a positive social image. Through this process, enterprises gradually recognize that green innovation is not only a contribution to the environment but also a fulfillment of their own social responsibility, helping to establish a positive image in society. Therefore, CCC, through various aspects such as raising environmental standards, policy support, and creating market opportunities, stimulates enterprises to actively engage in green innovation. Based on this, Hypothesis 1 and Hypothesis 2 is proposed:

Hypothesis 1: CCC can promote EGI.

Hypothesis 2: CCC will promote EGI by increasing the intensity of environmental regulation and environmental protection subsidies for enterprises.

Point 2:   How do enterprises typically prioritize between economic gains and green innovation, according to the text?

Response 2: As we have explained in both the abstract and the literature review section, enterprises often choose economic benefits when faced with a choice between economic gains and green innovation, but this practice is not in line with the requirements of sustainable development, so how to promote green innovation in enterprises has become a pressing issue.

 

Point 3:  What specific challenges does the text identify in promoting Enterprise Green Innovation (EGI)?

Response 3: We pointed out in the second paragraph of the introduction that companies are more focused on economic benefits when facing a green transition.

Point 4: What is China's Civilized City Construction (CCC) policy, and how does it relate to enterprise environmental behaviors?

Response 4: We have described in the third paragraph of the introduction that the CCC policy will on the one hand increase the pressure on firms to legitimize themselves, and on the other hand have a higher assessment system and standards, both of which will put higher pressure on firms to innovate in a green way. However, it is not yet clear whether the policy will drive firms to engage in green innovation.

Point 5: How does the CCC policy aim to address the trade-off between economic benefits and green innovation within enterprises?

Response 5: We explain in our research hypothesis that CCC policies will enhance enterprises' green innovation by increasing the intensity of environmental regulation and the level of environmental subsidies, which in turn will enhance enterprises' green innovation. Again, the empirical results support this research logic.

Point 6: What methodology does the study employ to investigate the impact of the CCC policy on EGI?

Response 6: In this paper, the Difference-in-Differences mode approach is used to measure the impact of CCC on EGI, as to why this approach is used, the advantages and applicability of this approach versus other approaches are explained in the model design section.

Point 7: What are the key findings regarding the relationship between the CCC policy and EGI, as revealed by the Difference-in-Differences (DID) model?

Response 7: The research findings indicate that CCC significantly promotes EGI.

Point 8: What are the mechanisms through which the CCC policy promotes EGI, according to the research findings?

Response 8: CCC will promote EGI by increasing the regional environmental regulations and environmental subsidy levels.

Point 9: What implications do the research findings hold for cities and enterprises in terms of EGI and policy governance?

Response 9: This study holds significant research implications and innovation in exploring the relationship between CCC and EGI. Firstly, green innovation, as a crucial strategy adopted by enterprises in response to increasingly severe environmental issues and dynamically changing market environments, holds paramount importance for the sustainable development of enterprises. A thorough investigation into the impact of CCC on EGI can provide valuable insights and guidance for both enterprises and governments, facilitating the achievement of sustainable development and environmental protection goals. Secondly, by choosing CCC policy as the research focus, this study delves into the promoting role of urban governance policies on EGI, expanding the research perspective on the impact mechanisms of urban governance policies on enterprise behavior and demonstrating a degree of research innovation.

Point 10: How can the insights gained from this study inform the formulation and implementation of future urban governance policies related to EGI?

Response 10: Based on the results of this study, some policy recommendations for CCC can be put forward to promote the further development of EGI: First, the government can encourage enterprises to increase their investment in green technology R&D and innovation by providing economic incentives such as environmental protection subsidies and tax concessions. Especially for green product production and energy saving and emission reduction, the government should increase subsidies to reduce the cost of enterprise innovation and increase the enthusiasm of enterprises for green innovation. Secondly, the government should also strengthen the supervision and evaluation of the implementation of CCC. It should establish a sound regulatory system, strengthen the supervision and inspection of enterprises' environmental protection behaviors, and impose severe penalties on enterprises violating environmental regulations to ensure the implementation of the policy. At the same time, the government can encourage enterprises to cooperate with scientific research institutions and universities to strengthen green technology innovation and transformation. Through the establishment of scientific and technological innovation platforms, the establishment of scientific research project funding, etc., to promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements into actual productivity, and promote the rapid development of EGI. Finally, the government can strengthen the information disclosure and publicity of enterprises' green innovation achievements to enhance the public's awareness and recognition of enterprises' environmental protection behaviors. Through the establishment of a green product certification system and the release of corporate environmental behavior rankings, enterprises are guided to pay more attention to environmental protection and green development.

Finally, thank you again for your valuable comments, which are very useful to improve the quality of our paper.

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 

Title

 

Can Civilized City Construction Promote Enterprise Green Innovation?

 

Overall comment

 

This study tries to explore the relationship between urban governance policies (in this case China's Civilized City Construction (CCC) policies) on promoting  Economic Green Innovation (EGI).

For that purpose, this study makes use of a Difference-in-Differences (DID) model to examine whether the CCC policy can promote EGI and reveal its underlying mechanisms.

The authors claims in their research that CCC significantly promotes EGI. The policy achieves this by strengthening regional environmental regulations, increasing subsidies for enterprise environmental protection, and consequently enhancing the level of enterprise green innovation. This discovery holds significant value for understanding the implications of EGI and policy governance on cities and enterprises. Additionally, it provides valuable insights for the formulation and implementation of future urban governance policies.

 

 

Although the exception of a literature review section, the paper seems to be well-organized, containing all the expected components, namely the   Introduction, Research Methods, Discussion and Analysis of results, and Conclusions.

The literature review section, although its existence in this study,  should have more (and updated) works, concerning the last approaches, in order to highlight  the importance of the study developed here, on behalf of the effectiveness of public policies on promoting EGI in general.

 

The author’s results are somehow convincing, given the purpose of the work.

However, I still reluctant to consider the contribution of this paper, since that the hypothesis explored by the authors are not sufficient supported by the literature review

 

Sustainability has to do with sustainable measures, that allows to establish a balance between economic, social and environmental dimensions. This should be more explored on literature review.

 

Moreover, the assumptions made on methodology section are not quite clear, for someone who wants to replicate the results achieved here

 

However, and in general, the authors have answered the research question stated here.

Furthermore, the relevance of the subject is also updated, although the lack of (some) novelty here.

Some recommendations regarding this issue can be found below.

 

Some recommendations of improvement:

  Strong points:

·         The relevance of the subject

·         Data used

·         Research method – Although it needs to be better explained, mainly when it regards to the assumptions made

 

Weak points:

·       Discussion of results:  Although it should be improved (if it is possible) by discussing the obtained results by comparing  those with the results from other studies

·       Future work - Regarding the conclusions’ section, and despite the main research question, pointed and answered, based on the achieved results, the authors should better specific the future work on the same section, by pointing (for instance) some clues to a reader, who might want to pursue the research.

 

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

 

Title

 

Can Civilized City Construction Promote Enterprise Green Innovation?

 

Overall comment

 

This study tries to explore the relationship between urban governance policies (in this case China's Civilized City Construction (CCC) policies) on promoting  Economic Green Innovation (EGI).

For that purpose, this study makes use of a Difference-in-Differences (DID) model to examine whether the CCC policy can promote EGI and reveal its underlying mechanisms.

The authors claims in their research that CCC significantly promotes EGI. The policy achieves this by strengthening regional environmental regulations, increasing subsidies for enterprise environmental protection, and consequently enhancing the level of enterprise green innovation. This discovery holds significant value for understanding the implications of EGI and policy governance on cities and enterprises. Additionally, it provides valuable insights for the formulation and implementation of future urban governance policies.

 

 

Although the exception of a literature review section, the paper seems to be well-organized, containing all the expected components, namely the   Introduction, Research Methods, Discussion and Analysis of results, and Conclusions.

The literature review section, although its existence in this study,  should have more (and updated) works, concerning the last approaches, in order to highlight  the importance of the study developed here, on behalf of the effectiveness of public policies on promoting EGI in general.

 

The author’s results are somehow convincing, given the purpose of the work.

However, I still reluctant to consider the contribution of this paper, since that the hypothesis explored by the authors are not sufficient supported by the literature review

 

Sustainability has to do with sustainable measures, that allows to establish a balance between economic, social and environmental dimensions. This should be more explored on literature review.

 

Moreover, the assumptions made on methodology section are not quite clear, for someone who wants to replicate the results achieved here

 

However, and in general, the authors have answered the research question stated here.

Furthermore, the relevance of the subject is also updated, although the lack of (some) novelty here.

Some recommendations regarding this issue can be found below.

 

Some recommendations of improvement:

  Strong points:

·         The relevance of the subject

·         Data used

·         Research method – Although it needs to be better explained, mainly when it regards to the assumptions made

 

Weak points:

·       Discussion of results:  Although it should be improved (if it is possible) by discussing the obtained results by comparing  those with the results from other studies

·       Future work - Regarding the conclusions’ section, and despite the main research question, pointed and answered, based on the achieved results, the authors should better specific the future work on the same section, by pointing (for instance) some clues to a reader, who might want to pursue the research.

Final comments:

 

Besides the quality of this study and its importance to explore  effectiveness of public policies on promoting EGI in general, some issues are missing in a study of this nature. Therefore, if the editor wants to continue with this submission, i want to ask to the authors to improve the paper, by follow some of my comments/suggestions. Then I will assess the returned manuscript again.

 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer :

Thanks for your comments concerning our manuscript entitled “Can Civilized City Construction Promote Enterprise Green Innovation?” (Sustainability-2870282). Those comments are all valuable and very helpful for improving the quality of our paper. We have studied deal with comments carefully and have made correction which we hope meet with approval. The main corrections in the paper and the responds to the reviewer’s comments are as flowing:

Point 1:  Discussion of results:  Although it should be improved (if it is possible) by discussing the obtained results by comparing  those with the results from other studies

Response 1: Thank you very much for pointing out the problem, it was the section we were missid we have added a subsection to the results section to discuss it as follows:ng an

5.3. Discussion

First of all, green innovation, as one of the important strategies for enterprises to cope with environmental problems and market changes, is crucial for their sustainable development. Through in-depth research on the impact of CCC on EGI, we can provide reference and guidance for enterprises and governments to promote the realization of the goals of sustainable development and environmental protection[84]. Second, this study introduces CCC as a research object, which expands the research perspective on the mechanism of urban governance policy's influence on corporate behavior, and has a certain degree of research innovation[85]. The results of the study show that CCC promotes EGI by strengthening environmental regulation efforts and increasing environmental subsidies.This study is different from previous studies in comparison.

The consistency with other studies is that this study confirms the positive impact of CCC on EGI, which is in line with some of the findings of previous studies. Many studies have already emphasized the role of policies in incentivizing environmentally friendly business behavior, which in turn promotes the development of green innovation in firms[86]. Meanwhile, the findings suggest that environmental regulation and environmental subsidies are important drivers in civilized city building policies, which is also consistent with previous studies. Previous studies have pointed out that government environmental regulations and incentives can effectively guide enterprises to adopt green technologies and innovations[87].

The difference with other studies is that this study introduces CCC as the object of study, expanding the research perspective on the mechanism of urban governance policies' influence on firms' behavior[88]. Compared with traditional urban development policies, CCC pays more attention to environmental protection and sustainable development, so the impact on EGI may have special characteristics. Meanwhile, the findings point out that CCC has a significant promotional effect on the quantity of EGIs, but the effect on the quality of EGIs is not yet significant[89]. This finding provides a new perspective on the impact of policies on the quality of EGI and provides a direction for further research in the future.

Point 2:   Future work - Regarding the conclusions’ section, and despite the main research question, pointed and answered, based on the achieved results, the authors should better specific the future work on the same section, by pointing (for instance) some clues to a reader, who might want to pursue the research.

Response 2: Thank you very much for the advice you gave, we have modified the conclusion section as follows:

Future research could employ more diverse empirical research methods to enhance the reliability and applicability of research conclusions. Moreover, considering the limitations in causal relationships in this study, future research might adopt more rigorous research designs and analytical methods to further validate the findings and propose more actionable policy recommendations. In addition to quantitative analysis, future research can also adopt qualitative research methods, such as case studies and in-depth interviews, to dig deeper into the intrinsic motivation and practical experience of enterprises' green innovation, so as to provide a more comprehensive reference for policy formulation. At the same time, future research can deeply explore the mechanism of CCC's influence on EGI. Specifically, in-depth analysis can be carried out from the aspects of policy implementation effect, enterprise response strategy, and industry chain influence, in order to better understand the path of policy influence on enterprise behavior.

Point 3:  However, I still reluctant to consider the contribution of this paper, since that the hypothesis explored by the authors are not sufficient supported by the literature review

Response 3: Thank you very much for pointing out the shortcomings, we have revised the literature review section, the details of the revision are as follows:

The relationship between urban construction and EGI is a core issue currently receiving significant attention in the field of sustainable development. As the central hub of human activities, the level of urban development directly affects the distribution of global resources and the sustainability of the environment[32,33]. Enterprises, as the driving force behind urban economic systems, not only impact their own competitiveness through their performance in green innovation but also profoundly shape the ecological landscape of cities[34,35]. Firstly, scientifically and reasonably governed cities and the construction of green infrastructure play a crucial role in reducing urban resource consumption and environmental pollution. This includes measures such as increasing urban green spaces, optimizing transportation systems, and introducing renewable energy sources. These actions not only enhance the ecological environment of cities but also provide a more favorable business environment for enterprises, stimulating their active participation in urban construction.

Secondly, EGI, as a core element of corporate social responsibility, has long been a focus of scholarly research. Existing studies elucidate the pivotal role of green innovation in the sustainability of enterprises[36]. Enterprises can enhance their competitiveness and gain consumer recognition in the market by introducing clean technologies, optimizing production processes, and driving the research and development of green products[37]. These research findings reveal the positive impact of enterprises actively engaging in green innovation on their own development and the overall green upgrading of the industry chain. Simultaneously, collaborative innovation between cities and enterprises is considered a key mechanism for promoting sustainable development[38,39]. City governments can provide a better external environment for enterprises by formulating environmental policies, offering incentives, and supporting green technology research and development, thus reducing the costs of enterprises engaging in green innovation[40]. This collaborative innovation mechanism fosters a positive interaction between cities and enterprises during the sustainable development process, mutually propelling the progress of green development.

CCC, as an important means of promoting sustainable urban development, has received much attention from scholars in recent years. However, although a number of studies have been conducted to explore the effects and impacts of CCC implementation, there are still some shortcomings[41]. First, there is a relative lack of current assessment of the implementation effects of CCC, especially for its specific impact in promoting EGI has not been systematically studied. Existing studies are often limited to policy advocacy and statistics of surface data, lacking in-depth analysis of actual policy implementation as well as EGI behavior[42]. Second, there is a lack of research frameworks and theoretical models. Although existing studies have explored related areas such as urban governance, corporate social responsibility, and innovation theory, they often lack systematic theoretical guidance, resulting in research results that lack depth and breadth. In addition, the research methodology is relatively single, often limited to qualitative or quantitative analysis, and lacks multi-perspective and multi-level methodological innovation[43]. The complex mechanisms and pathways by which CCC drives EGI have not been sufficiently studied.

In summary, existing literature reveals the close and intricate relationship between urban construction and EGI. Despite the existence of these theoretical frameworks, there remains a research gap in the current literature: a lack of in-depth investigation into the mechanisms and approaches through which CCC specifically promotes EGI. Existing research often focuses on a singular perspective, either urban construction or EGI, lacking a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the two. Nevertheless, from the available research, it is evident that CCC provides space for enterprises' green development. Scientific planning and the construction of environmentally friendly infrastructure, such as sewage treatment plants and waste disposal facilities, provide a greener production foundation for enterprises, making it easier for them to obtain green certifications and enhancing their competitiveness in the green market. However, the actual effectiveness of these efforts is yet to be determined.

 

Point 4: Moreover, the assumptions made on methodology section are not quite clear, for someone who wants to replicate the results achieved here. 

Response 4: Thank you very much for pointing out the shortcomings, we have revised the research hypotheses section, which is revised as follows:

Civilization has the most fundamental impact on societal development by shaping ideal beliefs, moral concepts, and value systems. The advancement of urban civilization can reshape the collective perception of social responsibility by governments, enterprises, and society as a whole[44]. Firstly, the development of urban civilization can innovate the governance perspective of the government, enhancing the institutional supply of social responsibility for enterprises at all levels. On one hand, the improvement of enterprise social responsibility relies on the refinement of governmental governance perspectives[45,46]. The higher the level of urban civilization, the higher the effectiveness of ideological concepts and institutional governance in its regulatory rules. On the other hand, the supply of democratic, scientific, and standardized external institutions prompts enterprises to shape new organizational cultures, structures, and conventions, thereby propelling enterprises towards the sharing of social values[47,48]. Secondly, the development of urban civilization can cultivate the altruistic views of enterprises, enhancing the intrinsic motivation of enterprise owners and executives to fulfill social responsibilities. Altruism suggests that the pure moral cultivation of enterprise owners or the ethical culture within an enterprise can compel it to shoulder social responsibilities. Thirdly, the development of urban civilization can foster public values, enhancing the overall societal supervision and constraints on enterprise social responsibility. The development of civilization can shape public values regarding fairness, justice, empathy, and friendliness, inspiring public awareness of rights, responsibilities, and the monitoring of enterprise behavior[49]. On this basis, citizens' values can converge to form societal consensus, guiding public opinion through media, networks, and other channels, and forming constraints on enterprise behavior under reputation mechanisms. Numerous studies have highlighted the advantages of social supervision, such as widespread foundation, numerous channels, and low costs, which can alleviate information asymmetry issues between governments and enterprises, constraining tax compliance, charitable donations, and environmental governance behavior.

The CCC has profound implications for promoting EGI. The essence of this relationship lies in the higher demands that urban construction places on the environmental and operational practices of enterprises, simultaneously creating more market opportunities for enterprises[50]. Firstly, as urban attention to environmental protection and sustainability continues to rise, CCC advocates stricter environmental standards and requirements. This compels enterprises not only to comply with more stringent environmental regulations but also to surpass these requirements actively, adopting and promoting green technological innovations. In order to meet or exceed urban environmental standards, enterprises must increase investment in green innovation, optimize production processes, reduce resource wastage, and steer products and services towards more environmentally sustainable directions. Secondly, governments in CCC often formulate a series of green policies, providing incentives such as rewards, tax reductions, and financial support to enterprises. This policy support not only lowers the costs of enterprises engaging in green innovation but also provides greater economic returns, making green innovation more attractive. Encouraged by such policies, enterprises are more willing to engage in green technology research and development, leading to the continuous emergence of green innovation. For example, government subsidies or tax incentives for enterprises that use renewable energy will encourage them to adopt more renewable energy technologies. By granting subsidies or incentives to enterprises for the application of green technologies and the research and development of resource-saving and environmentally friendly products, the Government can stimulate enterprises to actively engage in green innovation. Such a subsidy policy can reduce the economic cost for enterprises to invest in green innovation, thus increasing the incentive for EGI.

Furthermore, CCC creates broader market opportunities for enterprises. As urban residents' awareness of environmental protection and sustainability increases, the demand for green products and services also grows. Through green innovation, enterprises can better meet market demands, enhance product competitiveness, and expand market share. The expansion of these market opportunities provides enterprises with better development prospects and becomes an intrinsic driving force for EGI. Additionally, CCC emphasizes social responsibility and sustainable development, gradually making enterprises realize that participating in the ecological construction of cities not only provides a competitive advantage in business but also establishes a positive social image. Through this process, enterprises gradually recognize that green innovation is not only a contribution to the environment but also a fulfillment of their own social responsibility, helping to establish a positive image in society. Therefore, CCC, through various aspects such as raising environmental standards, policy support, and creating market opportunities, stimulates enterprises to actively engage in green innovation. Based on this, Hypothesis 1 and Hypothesis 2 is proposed:

Hypothesis 1: CCC can promote EGI.

Hypothesis 2: CCC will promote EGI by increasing the intensity of environmental regulation and environmental protection subsidies for enterprises.

Finally, thank you again for your valuable comments, which are very useful to improve the quality of our paper.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors have carefully revised this manuscript and the current version is acceptable.

Author Response

Thanks again for your help and recognition!

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Accept in present form.

Author Response

Thanks again for your help and recognition!

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper has signifcantly improved i must say.

However, and when it regards to  the contribution of this paper,  the authors should be more  succinct and clear on their explanation (in my humble opinion). This can be considered in  order to improve the readness of the paper by a reader. Regarding the other issues, i don't have more comments to preform. 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

. The quality is aceptable, although a proofread should be preformed in order to improve the quality of the text.

Author Response

Thank you very much for your comments, we have made changes accordingly. The details are shown below:

Point 1: However, and when it regards to  the contribution of this paper,  the authors should be more  succinct and clear on their explanation (in my humble opinion). This can be considered in  order to improve the readness of the paper by a reader. Regarding the other issues, i don't have more comments to preform. 

Response 1: Thank you very much for your comments, we have revised the section and the details of the revision are shown below:

On this basis, this paper further analyzes whether CCC can promote EGI and its mechanisms by the DID model. The contributions of this study are as follows. On one hand, under the background of increasingly serious global environmental problems, this paper explores the effect of CCC on EGI and its mechanism on the global consensus of sustainable development, which not only provides more specific and practical analytical experience for future research, but also presents a new perspective to deepen our understanding of the relationship between urban governance and corporate sustainable development. On the other hand, through the quantitative assessment, this study not only summarizes the successful experiences and practices, but also identifies the existing problems and challenges, thus putting forward corresponding policy recommendations and reform directions. Such specific and practical suggestions not only contribute to improving the effect of the current policy, but also provide an important reference for future related policies, which demonstrate in-depth thinking and specific guidance for the promotion of green transformation of enterprises and sustainable development of cities.

Point 2: The quality is aceptable, although a proofread should be preformed in order to improve the quality of the text.

Response 2: Your suggestions are much appreciated, and we have proofread and revised the manuscript.