On the morning of November 18, 2024, Professor Li Jiatao from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology was invited to give an academic lecture titled "Multinationals’ Environmental Performance: Evidence from Carbon Emission Reduction" in Lecture Hall 214 of the School of Management at Northwestern Polytechnical University. This lecture was the 28th session of the School of Management's 2024 Overseas Lecture Series, presided over by Associate Professor Zhang Ying, with the participation of some faculty members and graduate students from the School of Management.

At the beginning of the meeting, Zhang Ying introduced Professor Li Jiatao's research direction, scientific achievements, and academic contributions, and the attendees warmly welcomed Professor Li's arrival.

In this report, Professor Li Jiatao delved into the current trends and future directions of research in the field of international business in emerging markets. He provided a detailed introduction to five special issues in the Journal of International Business Studies, a top-tier international management journal. He emphasized the importance of conducting research on the resilience and sustainable development of multinational corporations, overseas investment, and the internationalization of family businesses.

In his thematic presentation, Li Jiatao noted that in recent years, multinational companies have demonstrated varying environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance in the countries where they operate. He observed that multinational enterprises tend to perform better in terms of environmental and governance when operating in regions with stricter regulations and greater normative pressure. Against this backdrop, his research focused on the environmental performance of multinational corporations. The results indicated that, compared to host countries, multinational companies are more likely to achieve carbon emission reductions in their home countries. Furthermore, the long-term orientation and environmental governance mechanisms of multinational enterprises can effectively mitigate the gap in carbon emission reductions between their home and host countries.

At the end of the lecture, Professor Li Jiatao addressed questions from the attending faculty and students, and Associate Professor Zhang Ying provided a summary of the session. Through this exchange, the faculty and students gained a profound understanding of the carbon reduction strategies of multinational corporations against the backdrop of dual carbon goals.

(Written by Zhang Ying, Reviewed by Shao Jing and Zhang Shuang)

Introduction to the Speaker:

Professor Li Jiatao is a current professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Business School, where he holds the title of Chair Professor in the Department of Management and is a Fellow of the International Business Academy. He is also the Director of the Center for Business Strategy and Innovation Research at the HKUST Business School. His research interests encompass organizational learning, strategic alliances, corporate governance, innovation, and entrepreneurship. As an authoritative expert in international business strategy, Professor Li is dedicated to advancing research on corporate strategy in emerging countries. He currently serves as the Deputy Editor of the Journal of International Business Studies and is a member of the editorial boards for top international journals such as the Academy of Management Journal, Global Strategy Journal, Journal of Management, and Long Range Planning. His research findings are frequently published in prestigious management academic journals including the Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Organization Science, Strategic Management Journal, Journal of Management, and Journal of International Business Studies.