Abstract
This research examines the evolving motivations for Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) within China’s energy sector. Using survey data from 224 senior executives, the study investigates how firms transition from compliance-based mandates to value driven missions. Findings indicate that while regulatory sticks and policy carrots drive initial SRI adoption, mature practitioners increasingly internalize ethical moral motivations by embedding responsibility into organizational routines. Crucially, as SRI commitment deepens, the reliance on governmental coercion decreases and gives way to multi stakeholder governance. This study contributes to the BAM (British Academy of Management) Sustainable and Responsible Business track by revealing the temporal shift from reactive compliance to proactive internal mission led sustainability. By highlighting the interplay between institutional pressure and internal ethics, the paper offers insights into how responsible business practices are institutionalized in high impact sectors, providing a framework for understanding long term corporate commitment to social and environmental goals.