A substantial surge in ESG research has triggered a wide dissemination of research across various domains, underscoring the need for an extensive appraisal of the complex ESG landscape. This paper is grounded on a sample of 441 documents retrieved from the Web of Science database, spanning from 2007 to 2023. A strategic mapping was performed to decipher the cumulative scientific knowledge by delving into the interrelations among various facets and identifying the field's basic, motor, niche, and emerging themes. We also explore the thematic evolution of ESG across distinct time frames, indicating ESG's inception, evolution, and diversification over the years. Our findings contribute to the ESG literature by categorizing it into seven clusters across the four quadrants. Results of the strategic mapping accentuate the obsolete, over‐researched and promising areas of ESG research. We find research on CSR, socially responsible investments and ESG‐firm performance themes as over‐researched areas calling for diversification. Promising research areas include the emerging association of ESG with portfolio construction, green innovations and investments, ESG controversies, information asymmetry, divergence, greenwashing, AI‐enabled universal rating mechanism, up‐grading and down‐grading of ESG scores and ESG‐linked compensations. Thematic evolution of ESG research underpins the culmination of its interplay with sustainability, emerging markets, board diversity, and green financing. Finally, the factorial analysis strengthens the reliability of the main findings, making it robust. This paper stands as the initial venture providing a comprehensive exploration of conceptual linkages, shifts, and advancements within the ESG literature through thematic mapping, offering an original contribution to the field.

中文翻译：

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金融环境社会治理格局的战略规划——通过概念和主题进行文献计量探索

ESG 研究的大幅增长引发了各个领域研究的广泛传播，凸显了对复杂的 ESG 格局进行广泛评估的必要性。本文以从 2007 年至 2023 年从 Web of Science 数据库检索到的 441 份文档为样本。通过深入研究各个方面之间的相互关系并确定该领域的基本、运动，进行了战略映射，以破译累积的科学知识。 、利基和新兴主题。我们还探讨了 ESG 在不同时间框架内的主题演变，表明 ESG 多年来的起始、演变和多元化。我们的研究结果对 ESG 文献做出了贡献，将其分为四个象限的七个集群。战略规划的结果强调了 ESG 研究中过时的、过度研究的和有前途的领域。我们发现对企业社会责任、社会责任投资和 ESG 企业绩效主题的研究是过度研究的领域，需要多元化。有前途的研究领域包括ESG与投资组合构建、绿色创新和投资的新兴关联、ESG争议、信息不对称、分歧、绿色清洗、人工智能驱动的通用评级机制、ESG分数的升级和降级以及ESG相关薪酬。 ESG 研究的主题演变巩固了其与可持续发展、新兴市场、董事会多元化和绿色融资相互作用的顶峰。最后，因子分析增强了主要研究结果的可靠性，使其稳健。本文作为初步尝试，通过主题映射对 ESG 文献中的概念联系、转变和进步进行了全面探索，为该领域做出了原创贡献。