Pathways to High Corporate Environmental Responsibility: A Fuzzy‐Set and Necessary Condition Analysis

ABSTRACT Global climate and environmental changes have heightened public awareness of corporate environmental responsibility (CER). However, few studies have examined from a systematic perspective how multiple factors jointly influence the level of corporate environmental responsibility. This study, grounded in sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystems (SEEs), analyzes data from 44 countries using the 2024 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) and the 2024 the Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index (GSCI). By applying necessary condition analysis (NCA) and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), the research explores the complex pathways to achieving high CER levels. The findings reveal four key configurations that lead to high CER, showing that no single factor is sufficient for achieving high CER. Additionally, intellectual capital does not appear to have a significant impact on CER. This research enhances the literature on sustainable development and contributes to a deeper understanding of CER across different countries.