Energy regulatory compliance and corporate social responsibility

•It increased the social responsibility of energy sector enterprises after implementing the Paris Agreement.•State-owned enterprises will significantly increase their level of social responsibility after the implementation of the Paris Agreement.•After implementing the Paris Agreement, enterprises in the growth phase will show a more significant increase in social responsibility.•Enterprises with sound internal controls will increase their social responsibility more significantly after implementing the Paris Agreement. This paper explores the relationship between the regulatory compliance of energy companies and their fulfillment of social responsibility in the context of implementing the Paris Agreement. Analyzed by a double difference model (DID), the study finds that the level of social responsibility of energy sector firms has significantly increased after implementing the Paris Agreement, with state-owned enterprises, firms in the growth period, and firms with sound internal controls performing more prominently. The study reveals the positive impact of energy regulations on CSR and provides empirical support for promoting global climate governance and sustainable development.