ABSTRACT The EU is clearly committed to its response to the climate and environmental crisis. Transformative policy solutions and targets have been set within the Union to restore 90% of degraded ecosystems and reach climate neutrality by 2050. The EU also remains one of the biggest donors of climate and environmental development aid. Green growth, good governance, adaptation and mitigation strategies, technology, corporate social responsibility, and other locales of change are intended to lead toward a more sustainable, secure and equitable future. These policies are commendable, but what potential do they have as transformative capacities? This article examines the underlying value systems that legitimise current EU climate and environmental policy for the purpose of critically reflecting on the Union's ability to effect fundamental changes to social, political and economic systems. Via a discourse and visual analysis on speeches, policy documents and images, the outcome suggests that policy development ought to reflect on human‐nature interconnectedness to overcome the limitation of its eco‐modernist and utilitarian value system.

Green finance and green growth: do green technological innovation and financial constraints matter?

ABSTRACT This study evaluates how economic and human capital factors influence ecological outcomes in the Next‐11 economies (Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Turkey, and Vietnam) over the period 1990–2023. The primary objective is to examine the differential impacts of carbon productivity and healthy life expectancy on ecological footprint, while accounting for socio‐institutional determinants such as income, education, governance, and energy transition. A Panel Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag (PQARDL) framework is employed to capture both short‐run dynamics and long‐run equilibrium relationships across the ecological footprint distribution. Results indicate that higher carbon productivity significantly reduces ecological footprints, supporting SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). In contrast, rising income and education, while enhancing human development, can increase environmental pressures, highlighting the need for sustainable growth strategies. Aging and healthy life expectancy show quantile‐dependent effects, particularly in high‐footprint economies, linking SDG 3 (Good Health and Well‐being) to ecological performance. Dominance analysis identifies wealth and education as the main drivers of ecological impact, while the significant error correction term confirms long‐term stability. The findings underscore the importance of integrated policy approaches that enhance carbon productivity through technological innovation and renewable energy adoption, advancing green growth in alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

ABSTRACT Within the context of the SDGs, this paper explores the green growth financing market in Africa and provides a basis for empirical analysis. The desire to achieve 2050 net-zero emission targets demands extensive investment in climate mitigation means that Africa requires about US$2 trillion by 2030 to mitigate climate change. African Development Bank offers a huge market for green and social financing through its Green Bond Program. The questions are: what opportunities exist in African emerging economies for the use of green bonds? How will green growth financing enhance economic, social, and governance in African emerging economies? What challenges may confront the use of green financing in emerging economies in Africa? We employ the desk review approach to explore the existing potentials and possible challenges that could affect green growth financing in emerging African economies. Results show enormous potential for green growth financing in emerging economies, given that there exist huge natural capital and potential for the capital market and banks to develop new instruments from green bonds, among others. Low level of development of the African capital market, the readiness of governments to make good use of funds from bonds, and weak governance structures may impede affect green growth financing strategies.

The development of agricultural new productive forces (ANPFs) represents a vital pathway to overcoming the bottlenecks of agricultural modernization and reshaping agricultural competitiveness. As sustainable development and green transformation have become global priorities, the formation of ANPFs is increasingly viewed as a key engine for promoting resource-efficient agriculture, low-carbon production, ecological protection, and resilient food systems. Using panel data from 16 prefecture-level cities in Anhui Province, China, spanning the period 2010–2023, this study employs the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method to measure the levels of ANPFs and sustainable agricultural development (SAD). A panel data model is then applied to examine the impact of ANPFs on SAD, while a mediation-effect model is used to test the underlying transmission mechanisms. Finally, a spatial econometric model is employed to assess the spatial spillover effects between ANPFs and SAD. The results reveal that ANPFs exert a significant and robust positive impact on Anhui’s SAD, with the strength of this effect decreasing gradually from central to southern and northern regions. Further analysis indicates that the driving influence of ANPFs operates through three key mediating pathways: the improvement of new-type infrastructure, the enhancement of agricultural scientific and technological innovation, and the advancement of agricultural digital transformation. Moreover, ANPFs demonstrate a positive spatial spillover effect, suggesting that the development of new productive forces in one region promotes agricultural modernization in neighboring areas. These findings demonstrate that ANPFs not only enhance productivity but also contribute to sustainable agricultural development. Accordingly, strengthening ANPFs development can serve as an effective strategy for promoting long-term agricultural sustainability, indicating that central Anhui should be prioritized as a core hub for fostering ANPFs, enabling the gradient diffusion of infrastructure, innovation capacity, and digital services toward southern and northern Anhui. Strengthening regional coordination mechanisms will further amplify the spatial spillover of ANPFs, thereby advancing high-quality agricultural development across the province. This study provides new evidence for how ANPFs can support sustainable agricultural transformation, offering policy insights for green growth, food security, and rural revitalization.

ABSTRACT In an era of intensifying global competition where nations aggressively pursue economic advancement, the imperative to balance progress with ecological preservation has become paramount. However, the race for advancement should not harm nature or future generations. Our study investigates the drivers that can lead to green growth, aligning with sustainable development principles that integrate economic growth, environmental stewardship, and social equity as per the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), across nine Western European countries from 2010 to 2019. By utilizing panel data from reputable sources, this research investigates the influence of globalization, natural resource rents, renewable energy consumption, trade openness, and total energy consumption on green growth. Employing contemporary panel diagnostic tests, cointegration analyses, and fixed‐ and random‐effects models, the study also validates its findings through quantile regression, fully modified ordinary least squares, and dynamic ordinary least squares. Our study has fulfilled its destiny by finding the right drivers. According to various analyses, globalization and trade openness consistently and significantly promote green growth, confirming their potential as reliable mechanisms for achieving green growth. The complex impact of renewable energy consumption and natural resource rents opens a new door for exploration by revealing the transitional barriers, such as initial costs and policy lags, in contrast to maintaining the resource rent tendency. However, the beneficial impact of total energy consumption of carbon and fossil fuel underscores the urgency of effective resource utilization and a shift toward renewable sources to decouple growth from unsustainable consumption before running out.

ABSTRACT Amid accelerating global decarbonization and ongoing efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), inclusive green growth (IGG) has emerged as a key development objective for many economies. Foreign direct investment (FDI), as an important channel for cross-border capital and technology flows, plays a key role in shaping IGG outcomes. Existing studies have yet to systematically examine how FDI influences IGG, particularly the heterogeneous effects associated with different entry modes, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and greenfield foreign direct investment (GFDI). Using a panel dataset of 106 countries from 2003 to 2023, this study employs fixed-effects estimations to examine the effects of overall FDI and its two entry modes on IGG, as well as the underlying mechanisms. The results show that overall FDI inflows promote IGG in host countries. Notably, M&A fosters IGG, while GFDI hampers IGG. Compared with developed countries, FDI exerts a stronger positive effect on IGG in developing economies, while the inhibitory effect of GFDI on IGG is also more pronounced. Over time, the positive contribution of M&A has weakened, while the adverse impact of GFDI has gradually moderated. Further analysis suggests that lower levels of technological innovation and weaker governance quality amplify the IGG-enhancing effects of FDI and M&A. This study offers actionable guidance for policymakers, emphasizing the importance of tailoring investment governance frameworks by distinguishing FDI entry modes and accounting for national development conditions to better align foreign investment with IGG goals and the SDGs.

ABSTRACT This paper proposes re-reading Tawney’s The Acquisitive Society as a contribution to economic philosophy that contains important arguments on topics such as markets, workplace democracy, and the ‘greening’ of economic institutions. Central to Tawney’s account is his notion of ‘social functions’ towards which economic activity should be oriented, away from an unconditional understanding of property rights and especially “functionless property”. A ‘functional society’, Tawney argues, would create opportunities for meaningful work and social recognition for all workers. To organize work around the fulfilment of social functions, he recommends governance structures in which both workers and other stakeholders, e.g. customers, have a voice, and in which transparency and public oversight are key. From a contemporary perspective, Tawney’s account may require some updates, for example, with regard to the democratic determination of ‘social functions’ in a pluralistic society. Such updates, however, are possible, and make Tawney an interesting interlocutor for those trying to rethink our economic system in the face of the current social and ecological crises, especially in three respects: the discussion about the ‘asset economy’, the debate over ‘green growth’ versus ‘post growth’, and the call for a greater reflexivity of institutions.

ABSTRACT Big data technologies have become essential tools in China’s efforts to accelerate the transition to a green economy and promote sustainable growth. By analysing data from 285 prefecture-level cities in China over the period from 2014 to 2023, we apply a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) model to assess the effects of the national big data comprehensive pilot zone policy (BDCPZ) on promoting inclusive green growth (IGG). Our findings indicate that: (1) the implementation of big data policies positively impacts IGG levels; (2) further analysis shows that the BDCPZ enhances IGG through three key mechanisms: strengthening environmental regulation, improving energy efficiency, and fostering urbanization; (3) the effect of the BDCPZ on IGG is stronger in first-tier and new first-tier cities.

Vietnam has increasingly acknowledged the critical role of sustainable energy in its long-term development strategy, particularly in response to the projected depletion of fossil fuel reserves and the escalating effects of climate change. Among the sustainable energy sources that need to be exploited, solar energy is emerging as a renewable energy source that plays a key role in Vietnam's sustainable development strategy. With its advantages of natural conditions, high radiation intensity, and long sunshine hours, Vietnam has great potential for exploiting and applying solar energy. Adopting and implementing a strategic orientation for sustainable energy development by 2030 and a vision for 2045 is another way the Vietnamese government has demonstrated its dedication to priorities. These initiatives promote the supply of reliable, superior, and affordable energy sources for long-term socioeconomic growth, contributing to environmental preservation. However, the development and exploitation of solar energy still face many challenges, including limitations in transmission infrastructure, unstable policy mechanisms, high initial investment costs, and issues related to the storage and management of renewable energy sources. This study focuses on analysing the mission of solar energy in contributing to ensuring energy security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting green growth in Vietnam; at the same time, pointing out the main challenges, potential for solar energy development and proposing practical solutions to effectively exploit the available potential. With the right guidance and sustained policy support, solar energy has the potential to play a significant role in Vietnam's energy transition and long-term environmentally friendly economic growth.

Vietnam has increasingly acknowledged the critical role of sustainable energy in its long-term development strategy, particularly in response to the projected depletion of fossil fuel reserves and the escalating effects of climate change. Among the sustainable energy sources that need to be exploited, solar energy is emerging as a renewable energy source that plays a key role in Vietnam's sustainable development strategy. With its advantages of natural conditions, high radiation intensity, and long sunshine hours, Vietnam has great potential for exploiting and applying solar energy. Adopting and implementing a strategic orientation for sustainable energy development by 2030 and a vision for 2045 is another way the Vietnamese government has demonstrated its dedication to priorities. These initiatives promote the supply of reliable, superior, and affordable energy sources for long-term socioeconomic growth, contributing to environmental preservation. However, the development and exploitation of solar energy still face many challenges, including limitations in transmission infrastructure, unstable policy mechanisms, high initial investment costs, and issues related to the storage and management of renewable energy sources. This study focuses on analysing the mission of solar energy in contributing to ensuring energy security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting green growth in Vietnam; at the same time, pointing out the main challenges, potential for solar energy development and proposing practical solutions to effectively exploit the available potential. With the right guidance and sustained policy support, solar energy has the potential to play a significant role in Vietnam's energy transition and long-term environmentally friendly economic growth.

Green growth through fintech innovation

The impact of network relationships on green innovation and industrial growth: Evidence from China's production and technological interdependencies

Exploring the future of sustainable ocean economies: Marine Trade's role in advancing inclusive green growth

Microalgae biorefinery in the belt and road initiative: opportunities for green growth.

Toward sustainability: Analyzing the role of NEVs in inclusive green growth through nighttime light data

ABSTRACT This article examines the intersection of ecological challenges, energy transition, and sub-state nationalism in three Mediterranean regions: Sardinia, Corsica, and Catalonia. Building on research on sub-state nationalism, energy justice, and environmental politics, it draws on 55 in-depth interviews with political actors, social movement representatives, and environmental activists, complemented by document analysis. The analysis identifies three dominant frames shaping energy transition debates—referred to as the “three Ss”: sovereignty in Sardinia, sustainability in Corsica, and sufficiency in Catalonia. In Sardinia, energy sovereignty is articulated as resistance to perceived neocolonial dynamics associated with large-scale renewable energy projects. In Corsica, environmental NGOs emphasize sustainable development, reflecting a more institutionalized approach based on legal actions to reconciling ecological protection and economic development, contrasting with a past marked by political violence, including over environmental issues. In Catalonia, a strong tradition of environmental and social mobilization underpins sufficiency-based perspectives, often linked to degrowth and broader critiques of capitalist development. The article argues that these frames are shaped not only by structural political-economic conditions but also by patterns of interaction and alliance among political parties, social movements, NGOs, and civil society actors. More broadly, the findings suggest that Mediterranean regions—often depicted as peripheral and environmentally vulnerable—may function as laboratories for alternative, justice-oriented approaches to the eco-climatic crisis, challenging dominant green growth paradigms.

Path to sustainable marine development: Does artificial intelligence development in coastal regions matter for green growth in the marine economy? Evidence from China

This study empirically examines the role of renewable energy innovation in promoting green GDP growth while reducing carbon intensity within BRICS economies. Utilizing panel data econometrics and dynamic System GMM estimation over the period 2010–2022, the analysis integrates innovation indices, patent data, and R&D expenditures to capture technological progress. Results indicate that renewable energy innovation significantly enhances green economic growth, supported by complementary factors such as human capital, financial development, and foreign direct investment, while carbon emissions from energy use negatively impact growth. These findings underscore the critical importance of fostering innovation ecosystems, strengthening human capital, and improving institutional frameworks to accelerate sustainable development in emerging markets. Policy recommendations include targeted investments in clean technology R&D, financial incentives for green innovation, and regulatory reforms to attract quality FDI for sustainable energy transitions.

Many developing countries face the twin challenge of accelerating economic growth while addressing environmental degradation, climate change, and resource constraints. The concept of the “green economy” — broadly defined as an economic system that seeks to promote growth and development while ensuring environmental sustainability, resource efficiency, and social inclusion — has gained prominence as a potential pathway. Yet an open question remains: to what extent does the transition to a green economy contribute positively to economic growth in developing countries, and under what conditions? Some scholars suggest that green growth helps decouple economic expansion from environmental harm, while others caution that in low-income contexts, the benefits may be limited or delayed. This article aims to review the relevant literature, analyze empirical evidence on the relationship between green economy or green growth implementation and economic development in developing countries, and discuss key enablers, barriers, and policy implications.