This study explores the emerging research trends at the intersection of corporate governance and carbon performance. Analysing a comprehensive dataset of 1,230 journal articles published between 2011 and 2024 in leading academic journals, the study examines publication outputs, authorship patterns, citation networks, and key research topics. Utilising VOSviewer software, the study maps co-citation, co-authorship, and co-occurrence networks. The findings reveal a significant surge in academic interest, particularly following the pandemic years. Geographically, countries like China, Italy, and the United States lead in publication volume, while notable research gaps persist in regions such as South Africa, South America, and certain European Union (EU) countries. Furthermore, a thematic analysis highlights the dominance of environmental, social and governance (ESG)-related keywords in recent discourse, with emerging themes such as digital transformation and non-financial disclosure presenting promising avenues for future research.