Does fintech inhibit energy industry companies' intention to engage in greenwashing? Evidence from China's carbon emission reduction policies

• Fintech can inhibit the intention of companies to engage in greenwashing. • Fintech can promote the development of IT, RAC, and ESR in companies. • IT, RAC, and ESR can inhibit the intention of companies to engage in greenwashing. • In the process of fintech inhibiting greenwashing, IT, RAC, and ESR all play a mediation role. • There were no significant differences among these three mediation variables. Against the background of China’s carbon emission reduction policies, this study aims to explore the impact of fintech on energy industry companies’ involvement in greenwashing intention and to examine the roles of information transparency, risk assessment capacity, and environmental social responsibility in this impact process. Based on research data from 480 energy industry companies in China, empirical analysis revealed the following: (1) Fintech can inhibit the intention of companies to engage in greenwashing; (2) Fintech can promote the development of information transparency, risk assessment capacity, and environmental social responsibility in companies; (3) Information transparency, risk assessment capacity, and environmental social responsibility can inhibit the intention of companies to engage in greenwashing; (4) In the process of fintech inhibiting companies’ intention to engage in greenwashing, information transparency, risk assessment capacity, and environmental social responsibility all play a mediation role; (5) Comparative analysis of the mediation effects showed that there were no significant differences among these three mediation variables. This study contributes to the evaluation of policy implementation effectiveness, ensuring the effectiveness of environmental protection policies, and providing substantial guidance for the development and execution of environmental policies. It also helps steer companies towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly directions and provides valuable practical references for the application of fintech in environmental regulation.