Discussing Insights from the Carbon Performance Literature for IB: The Institutional Complexity of Climate Change Policy

Abstract

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) own and control technological resources and capabilities that make them critical actors in accelerating the transition toward net zero. Even beyond the energy sector, stakeholders are putting increasing pressure on MNEs to reduce the carbon intensity of their operations, that is, to improve their carbon performance. While there is unambiguous evidence that national climate policy is a critical catalyst for long-term carbon performance improvements, there is limited research on how MNEs’ carbon strategies react to climate policies. This chapter reviews the concepts, drivers, and strategies connected to carbon performance in the broader sustainability and management literature to clarify potential complementarities to international business (IB). The authors then highlight how MNEs will face increasing institutional complexity along two dimensions: (1) the structural diversity of institutional environments and (2) institutional dynamism, primarily reflected by public policy. The proposed conceptual framework maps these two dimensions to national and subnational levels, and the authors present two data sources that allow the quantitative analysis of country differences in the diversity and dynamism of national climate policy. The authors conclude that there are ample opportunities for IB researchers to explore MNEs’ strategic reactions to climate policy and to inform policymakers about the consequences of national climate policy in the global economy.

Citation

Leymann, G. and Kehl, A. (2024), "Discussing Insights from the Carbon Performance Literature for IB: The Institutional Complexity of Climate Change Policy", van Tulder, R., Grøgaard, B. and Lunnan, R. (Ed.) Walking the Talk? MNEs Transitioning Towards a Sustainable World (Progress in International Business Research, Vol. 18), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 237-261. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1745-886220240000018017