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ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Understanding the Hotspots, Contents,
and Trends of ESG Research Using Local
and Global Bibliometric Analyses
1
School of Fashion Design & Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
2
Suzhou Foreign Language School, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215011, China
3
School of Economics and Management, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
4
Office for Social Responsibility of China National Textile and Apparel Council, Beijing, 100027, China
5
College of Textile Science and Engineering (International Institute of Silk), Zhejiang Sci-Tech University,
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310018, China
6
Research Center of Digital Intelligence Style and Creative Design, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University,
Hangzhou 310018, China
7
Green and Low-Carbon Technology and Industrialization of Modern Logistics, Zhejiang Engineering Research Center,
Hangzhou 310018, China
Submission date: 2024-01-07
Final revision date: 2024-04-19
Acceptance date: 2024-06-28
Online publication date: 2024-09-16
Publication date: 2025-06-06
Corresponding author
Ying Zhang
School of Fashion Design & Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
School of Fashion Design & Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2025;34(4):4673-4684
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
In recent years, there has been a surge in interest in Environmental, Social, and Governance
(ESG) factors, prompting a need for systematic review and analysis of existing literature to address
research limitations and identify future directions. This paper presents a bibliometric and content
analysis of 2077 academic works in both Chinese and English languages. Drawing from data sourced
from China Knowledge Network and Web of Science databases, this analysis spans the periods
of 2012 to 2023 and 2007 to 2023, examining studies from local and global perspectives. Utilizing
CiteSpace, the study explores keyword frequency, cluster view, and timeline view to elucidate progress
and frontiers in ESG research. Findings reveal four primary themes: “ESG disclosure,” “corporate
financial performance,” “ESG investment,” and “corporate sustainable development strategy.” Local
literature emphasizes corporate ESG disclosure, while global literature focuses on corporate sustainability
from entrepreneurial and investor perspectives. The study’s implications include global trends such
as robust information disclosure systems, green finance advancement, ESG practice promotion,
and refining stakeholder-corporate sustainable development relationships and ESG performance research. This study uniquely reviews ESG topics from dual perspectives, providing insight into
literature evolution, research content, and avenues for future exploration in ESG.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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