THE INFLUENCE OF FEMALE BOARD REPRESENTATION AND INSTITUTIONAL OWNERSHIP ON GREEN INNOVATION

As global awareness of climate change intensifies, there is a pressing need to understand how corporate governance factors can drive sustainable practices.Despite recognition of the roles of diversity and institutional investors in promoting sustainability, their combined effect on green innovation in the Chinese context remains underexplored.In order to address this gap, we used advanced statistical methods including Poisson, Negative Binomial and Zero Inflated Binomial regressions to analyze a comprehensive dataset of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2010 through 2022.The findings reveal that female representation on board and institutional ownership positively correlates with green innovation.This impact intensifies as the female presence on board's upsurges.The study also highlights the moderating role of state-owned enterprises, which can amplify the relationship between institutional ownership and green innovation.These results suggest that promoting gender diversity and encouraging collaboration between institutional investors and state-owned enterprises are crucial strategies for advancing green innovation and environmentally friendly practices.The implications of this research are significant for policymakers and corporate leaders, providing insights into how gender diversity and institutional ownership can be integrated into strategies for sustainable development.This study contributes to the existing literature by integrating resource dependence theory, upper echelons theory, and legitimacy theory, offering a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics between gender diversity, institutional ownership, and green innovation.