<p>This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of 3150 GI-related papers in the WoS core database. It is found that the hotspots of GI research in academia mainly focus on the following five topics: management and performance, drivers and mainstream approaches, green governance chain and sustainable development, government support, and environmental regulation. Additionally, it constructs a knowledge map of GI and refines the characteristics of current GI research. That is to say, the existing studies emphasise the important role of government and market in GI, mostly using quantitative research methods. There are fewer cross-regional and cross-cultural studies, and there is a gap between the current GI studies in developing and developed countries. Accordingly, we propose the following policy recommendations: First, the government should take the initiative to involve the public and other unofficial actors in GI, and formulate a GI development and environmental quality improvement plan that is appropriate to its national conditions. Second, international organisations, multinational enterprises and environmental alliances should be used as hubs to promote cross-regional and cross-cultural exchanges and cooperation on GI practices and experiences. Finally, the concept and consensus of the environmental governance community should be further deepened, and GI practices and research should be carried out in the capacity of an environmental governance community or an academic community, to expand and deepen the depth and breadth of GI research. These topics on which future research should focus.</p>