Purpose A quantitative research design was adopted using a Web-based survey targeting 290 Indian procurement experts across public and private sectors. The data were analyzed using SmartPLS 4.0, applying the Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling technique to test measurement reliability, structural relationships and moderating effects. Design/methodology/approach This study investigates the role of Big Data Analytical Capabilities (BDAC) in enhancing firms’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance, with a particular emphasis on the moderating effect of Green Finance (GF). It aims to uncover how data-driven capabilities and sustainable financial mechanisms jointly promote ESG outcomes among Indian procurement professionals. Findings The results reveal that BDAC significantly and positively influences all ESG dimensions, particularly Environmental Performance (EP) and Green Performance (GP). Although GF independently improves ESG outcomes, its effect is weaker than BDAC’s. Importantly, GF significantly moderates the relationship between BDAC and GP, but not with EP or Social Performance, highlighting a synergistic role in advancing environmentally driven outcomes. Practical implications The findings underscore that firms can strengthen ESG performance by simultaneously investing in big data analytics and green financing instruments. Managers and policymakers should encourage data-driven sustainability monitoring and facilitate access to green funds to support environmentally responsible procurement and corporate governance practices. Originality/value This study extends the Resource-Based View Natural Resource-Based View and Resource-Dependence Theory by integrating technological and financial resources as complementary drivers of sustainability. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to empirically examine this interaction in the context of Indian procurement experts, a critical yet understudied domain.

Corrigendum to ‘Comparison between inclusive finance and green finance in alleviating energy poverty and the mediating role of energy structure’ [Energy Economics Volume 147 June 2025 108597

Dynamic connectedness between AI, green finance, and energy assets: Risk transmission and portfolio implications during net-zero transition period

Spatial impact of green finance reform and innovation pilot zones on industrial structure upgrading in China

Impact of regional green finance development on green transformation of enterprises

Dynamic evolution and multiscale drivers of green finance for high-quality energy transition

How does green finance policy improve urban ecological resilience? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment on green credit interest subsidies

Technology-society nexus in post-COP 27 era: How digital innovation, energy transition, and green finance drive net-zero pathways in OECD countries

Guiding capital to carbon neutrality pressure: Comparing market-driven green finance and government-led fiscal policy

The study examines the effects of green finance and human development on environmental degradation using panel data of 36 upper-middle and high-income countries from 2014 to 2021. Environmental degradation is measured through ecological footprint and per capita CO₂ emissions. Key variables comprise green finance, Human Development Index, gross domestic product, population density, foreign direct investments, and natural resource rents. The Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis is tested to assess the non-linear relationship between economic growth and environmental quality. Panel regression models with fixed effects, Driscoll-Kraay standard errors, and wild bootstrap methods ensure robust inference. Findings provide mixed support for the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis, with stronger evidence in high-income countries and limited support in upper-middle-income countries. Both green finance and human development significantly reduce environmental degradation, with green finance emerging as the most consistent policy instrument across all approaches and income groups. Natural resource rents show marginal positive associations with environmental degradation, while foreign direct investments and population density demonstrate limited effects. The study suggests that expanding green financial markets represents the most reliable strategy for environmental improvement, with income-differentiated approaches required for effective implementation. These findings offer robust policy guidance for countries seeking to balance environmental preservation with economic development.

This study investigates the impact of green financing on corporate value within Indonesia’s renewable energy sector. The primary aim is to examine how green financing affects companies’ financial performance and market valuation when implementing sustainable practices. Employing a library-based research approach, data were systematically collected from books, peer-reviewed journals, and industry reports addressing green financing, corporate value, and renewable energy. The findings indicate that green financing provides financial advantages, enhances corporate reputation, and attracts investors focused on sustainability, thereby contributing to higher corporate value. Nevertheless, challenges such as complex certification procedures and regulatory uncertainties limit smaller firms’ ability to fully leverage green financing opportunities. These results underscore the importance of more supportive policies and accessible financing mechanisms to promote sustainable growth. Keywords: Green Financing, Corporate Value, Renewable Energy Sector, Sustainable Investment, Indonesia.

This study investigated the determinants of green financing and bank performance: Implications for sustainability. The research design was a-cross-sectional survey and structural equation modelling served to analyse the data. The results show that pressure from host communities, customers and competitors can influence the implementation of green financing. In addition, the implementation of green financing attracts goodwill and goodwill mediates the relationship between green financing and profitability. Banks’ sustenance of green financing will stimulate financing of green projects and thus, lead to the enhancement of a sustainable environment. However, top management pressure will not have any significant influence on its goodwill.

Abstract Almost all sectors, including banking, face environmental issues that lead to market and reputational risks. Banks are uniquely positioned in mitigating this environmental damage. Hence, banks have prioritized green financing and the adoption of green banking practices. Banks are actively promoting investments in environmentally friendly products and services, which helps in promoting competitiveness and improved performance. Green Banking provides banks with several initiatives that can reform their organization and help their journey toward green growth. Therefore, this research’s main aim is to examine whether Green Banking Practices (GBP) impacts Competitive Advantage (CA) and Organizational performance (OP). Another objective of this research is to evaluate whether CA mediates the association between GBP and OP. In this regard, a survey was conducted to collect data from 385 employees of 4 Indian commercial banks (2 public and 2 private) operating in New Delhi. Data was analyzed using SmartPLS4 and SPSS. The study’s empirical results find a significant and linear association of GBP with CA (β value = 0.793, p = 0.000) and OP (β value = 0.440, p = 0.000). Moreover, the study also shows that CA is partially mediating (indirect effect = 0.0.415) the association between GBP and OP. This paper will offer unique results for Indian commercial banks and advance the body of knowledge on the subject.

Reservoir basins globally face an intensifying sustainability paradox: balancing economic growth, social welfare, and environmental protection often triggers systemic trade-offs. However, comprehensive assessments revealing these internal imbalances remain scarce, hindering targeted governance. To address this gap, this paper developed a multidimensional framework of Ecological development benefits, integrating Entropy-Weighted AHP and Fuzzy Mathematics. Applying this to 2015–2022 data from the Sanmenxia Reservoir in the Yellow River Basin of China revealed three development paradoxes: Protection-prioritized regions face diminishing returns; growth-driven regions accumulate ecological deficits; and environmentally stagnant regions decline in resilience. Critically, no optimal pathway exists—all subregions exhibited significant imbalances despite aggregate ecological improvements, and policy shocks (e.g., COVID-19, new environmental laws) amplified disparities, exposing institutional fragmentation. Based on the research findings, policy recommendations are proposed for green financing mechanisms, adaptive governance, and region-centered protection, which directly advance SDGs 6 (water security), 8 (inclusive growth), and 13 (climate action), offering a transferable analytical framework for basins like the Mekong and Nile, which are confronting similar paradoxes.

Purpose The research examines the factors influencing the adoption of green financing in the steel sector of Odisha, where balancing industrial growth and environmental sustainability is crucial. It places the experience of Odisha in international efforts on climate change and India's national sustainability agenda. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods research strategy was used, integrating survey responses from 171 participants and ordinal regression analysis. The independent variables used were initiatives in sustainable finance, opportunities for growth, green technology incentives, access barriers to financing, social responsibility (SR), government support and financial infrastructure. Findings Findings verify strong correlations among the determinants and rates of green finance (GF) uptake. Although the majority of the stakeholders lie within the medium adoption group, major barriers on progress, e.g. low incentives, access to finance challenges and poor governmental support – limit improvement. Financial infrastructure support and SR come across as possible facilitators. Research limitations/implications The research finds it imperative for GF adoption to be supported by targeted incentives, robust financial infrastructure and enabling policy frameworks. With this gap filled, Odisha's steel sector can both converge with international sustainability objectives while raising industrial competitiveness. Originality/value The study focuses on various driving forces for an organization to adopt GF practices for their financial management in recent years. As financing is done at different levels, it is also very essential to understand the impact of these factors in concern with level of financing.

Abstract State-led decarbonization efforts increasingly rely on a derisking approach, where public resources absorb investment risk and create “bankable” green projects to mobilize private capital. Yet, growing research highlights significant challenges in putting derisking into practice. I examine the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) to assess how derisking shapes low-carbon infrastructure development. Drawing on document analysis and a review of its partners’ financial structures, I find that the CIB has struggled to mobilize investment at scale despite adopting a derisking strategy. Moreover, several of its partnerships involve firms connected to offshore tax havens, raising concerns about the redirection of public resources toward private gain. These dynamics call into questions the bank’s capacity to support Canada’s decarbonization goals. More broadly, the study contributes to research on the structural limits of derisking by showing how reliance on green finance can undermine decarbonization efforts, reproduce global inequalities, and shift climate policy away from public accountability.

Sustainable finance has grown substantially during the last decade, evolving from a niche to now firmly embedded in mainstream financial practice. However, several questions remain open: Do green financial instruments improve environmental outcomes? Do regulations change corporate behaviour without public scrutiny? Can we trust ESG scores when rating agencies disagree? The debate has matured, no longer fixated on ESG’s value, but on deeper, contextual questions about when, how, and for whom it matters. This special issue of Bankers, Markets & Investors brings together four articles that address these questions directly, examining the real effects of green bonds, the conditions under which climate regulation affects fossil fuel companies, the biases embedded in ESG scoring models, and how financial markets respond when firms face ESG controversies. In terms of perspective, we discuss some research avenues related to green finance, during a period of uncertainty.

Energy Transition and Climate Risk Mitigation: the Moderating Role of Green Finance, Technology and Institutional Quality

This study examines the key determinants of carbon emissions (COE) in South Asia, focusing on energy transition (ENT), digitalization (DIG), financial development (FDT), and human capital (HCT). Using panel data from 2000 to 2023 and the cross-sectional autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) model, it offers novel insights into both direct and moderating effects. A major finding is that FDT negatively moderates the effects of ENT and DIG on COE, implying that financial development plays a crucial role in enhancing the environmental benefits of clean energy and digital technologies. ENT, DIG, and HCT are found to reduce COE significantly in both the short and long term, while FDT contributes to higher emissions. These results have important implications for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7, 9, and 13 and advancing COP28-aligned carbon neutrality. The study underscores the importance of green finance, digital and renewable energy expansion, and human capital development as key drivers for emissions reduction and sustainable growth in South Asia.

Purpose This study aims to address the lack of a structured framework for understanding how stakeholders in developing countries, particularly Nigeria, balance construction cost constraints with sustainability objectives in green infrastructure projects. This gap is intensified by limited green financing, unstable market and decision-making approaches that overlook both economic and qualitative sustainability factors. To address this, the study proposes a consensus-based method for assessing cost−carbon trade-offs and identifying key drivers that align cost control with improved sustainability outcomes. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative, three-round Delphi study was conducted with 20 purposively selected experts, including public clients/regulators, consultants, contractors, financiers, suppliers and academics. The first round involved a focus group discussion to generate initial themes, while the second and third rounds used content-validated questionnaires refined from Round 1. The reliability of the items was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha (threshold = 0.70), and consensus was measured with Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (W), which increased across rounds, indicating convergence. Findings Four interlocking themes were identified as critical to cost–carbon decision-making in Nigerian green infrastructure delivery: perceived value of sustainability; cost-sustainability strategies; institutional and regulatory levers; and knowledge and capacity development. These insights were synthesized into an integrative framework emphasizing evidence-based persuasion, strategic collaboration, supportive regulation and capacity development. Originality/value This study is novel in presenting a framework for cost–carbon decision-making in green infrastructure projects. It advances construction management knowledge by revealing how cognitive, institutional, strategic and human-capability factors interact to achieve sustainable project outcomes, thereby offering both theoretical and practical significance.