The Historical Process and Evolutionary Logic of China’s Green Credit System

The green credit system, integrating the social credit system and green development, is crucial for ecological civilization construction in China. Analyzing its evolution through historical institutionalism, the system has progressed through exploration, development, and deepening stages. The macro context, evolving development concepts, and stakeholder interactions shape its evolution. Key nodes include the national sustainable development strategy, the “three transformations” concept, and the corporate environmental credit evaluation system. Path dependence, learning effects, and adaptive expectations influence its historical development. The green credit system balances sustainability and innovation, with top-level design and local practice mutually reinforcing each other. Moving forward, it will further drive green development methods and ecological well-being sharing through balanced, scientific, and intelligent approaches.