The Impact of Climate Risk Attention on Audit Fees in the Digital Economy: Empirical Evidence from Chinese E-Commerce Listed Companies

Authors

• Sijia Zhong, Business School, Wuchang University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR ChinaFollow
• Zhi Li, College of Finance and Economics, Wuhan City Polytechnic, Wuhan, Hubei, PR ChinaFollow
• Ning Zhang, Business School, Wuchang University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR ChinaFollow
• Zhao Bao, Business School, Wuchang University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR ChinaFollow
• Zhan Zhan, Business School, Wuchang University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR ChinaFollow

Abstract

Climate change presents both risks and opportunities for firms. Using data from 2008 to 2023 of A-share e-commerce firms listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges, this study is the first to empirically explore how firms’ attention to climate risk reduces audit fees. We find that: (1) greater climate risk attention significantly lowers e-commerce firms’ audit fees; (2) this effect operates via alleviating financing constraints and enhancing corporate resilience, strengthened by e-commerce and AI digital capabilities; (3) the effect is more prominent for heavy-polluting firms, private enterprises, and digital-native AI-driven e-commerce firms. This research enriches understanding of climate risk governance in the digital economy and provides practical implications for digital enterprises, auditors, and regulators.

Recommended Citation

Zhong, Sijia; Li, Zhi; Zhang, Ning; Bao, Zhao; and Zhan, Zhan, "The Impact of Climate Risk Attention on Audit Fees in the Digital Economy: Empirical Evidence from Chinese E-Commerce Listed Companies" (2026). ICEB 2026 Proceedings (Beijing, China). 102.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/iceb2026/102