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187 Sustainability Topics For Research Papers In 2023

If you are a student of environmental science or even technology, sustainability is a very important topic for your research papers. These topics help you study the impact of mankind on the environment and different options that are available to prevent further deterioration of the planet. There is a lot of scope for research on this subject, making it one of the most common topics for dissertation or thesis writing. Here is a list of some of the best environmental sustainability research topics that will help you get started on your research paper and project.

The topics below are practical and easy because you can find a lot of information about them. Whether you are writing an informative or argumentative paper, these topics are the perfect starting point for you.

Environmental Sustainability Research Topics

These sustainability research topics are suitable for in-depth data and analysis. They are ideal for lengthy writing assignments.

Draw a comparison between different non-profit groups that are dedicated to improving sustainability.
Can custom sustainable designs for classrooms improve learning?
Is adding better natural lighting a sustainable way of saving on energy costs in large organizations?
What are the different technological innovations that are focused on reducing environmental pollution?
Does veganism help protect the environment?
Are hand dryers instead of paper towels a good idea for public restrooms?
How is pollution related to a country’s GDP?
Why do developing nations find it difficult to start recycling programs?
What are some political challenges that the environment faces globally?
Is American politics affecting the environment?
What are the benefits of choosing a vegan diet?
Do developed countries have the responsibility of helping third-world nations become more sustainable?
Are your current local environmental policies effective enough?
Should high schools and colleges ban the use of plastic?
How does food consumption affect the environment?
Why is Sweden so different from other countries when it comes to protecting the environment?
What are some technological advancements that help us reduce waste?
Why have we failed to reduce food wastage across the globe?
Is better recycling technology the solution to reducing waste in landfills?
How are plastic straws a threat to the environment of the Earth?
Can increased taxes items meant for single-use reduce waste from piling up in landfills?
Why do some states succeed in banning plastic bags while others fail?
How is overpopulation related to pollution?
In the next fifty years, how will the population impact the environment?
Do we have enough natural resources to support the exploding population across the globe?
What role does the government play in improving food resources?

Easy Sustainability Topics For Research

These sustainability topics for research are commonly used by students because they are practical in terms of research and the availability of data.

Is banning plastic a suitable solution to reduce environmental pollution?
What are the options available to make cutlery sustainable?
Should metros ban the use of plastic straws completely?
Why is our ecosystem so dependent on sea life?
Does any carbon footprint come from farm animals and how?
Why is it the need of the hour to prevent waste from being dumped into oceans?
How does getting fair-trade certificates to benefit university campuses?
Why should we increase the consumption of local produce?
How does supporting local businesses improve sustainability?
Should food donation programs be imposed in cities?
How has the emergence of farmers’ markets helped various communities?
Is buffet-style dining beneficial or harmful for efforts toward sustainability?
How can taxes be used to improve sustainability efforts?
How can leftovers from hotels and restaurants be disposed of sustainably?
What are the various benefits of food programs for the community?
Explain the process of growing vegan produce and its effect on the environment
How have sustainability efforts been affected globally as a result of the pandemic?
Is zero-waste living ideal?
What does sustainability mean in the 21st century?
How is supporting local food markets sustainable?
How does the greenhouse effect change as a result of less meat consumption?
Does eating red meat improve the quality of the air?
What are some benefits of switching to a plant-based diet?
Should school cafeterias increase the options for vegan food?
How do slaughterhouses impact the environment negatively?
What if all restaurants switched to buffet-style meals?

Best Sustainability Topics For Research Papers

Looking for sustainability topics for research that can ensure better grades. Here is a list of some of the best topics on sustainability that you can choose from.

Give a detailed plan for a sustainable restaurant.
Why do large cities struggle with reducing air pollution?
Should cities make it mandatory to reduce food waste in community gardens?
What are some of the primary benefits of improving public transportation systems?
Should rainwater harvesting become compulsory for large buildings?
Has technology benefited or harmed the environment?
Will reducing our dependence on technology help sustain the environment?
Are smaller classrooms beneficial or harmful to the environment?
How has the pandemic affected the environment positively?
What is the negative impact of the pandemic on the environment?
Can reducing the number of school days improve sustainability efforts?
How do school campuses contribute to environmental deterioration? How can it be reduced?
What are the best ways to teach children about non-renewable and renewable resources?
What are some immediate changes that you can make in your life to become more sustainable?
Create a detailed sustainability plan for your family
Can maintaining a constant temperature at home reduce energy costs? Support your argument with data.
Chart out a detailed zero-waste living plan that can be implemented easily.
What is the relationship between community health and the environment?
Case studies of the impact of pollution on the health of people.
How do developing nations improve their access to water resources?
Can government policies truly help the environment?
Will creating better public spaces like riverbeds and parks improve sustainability?
What are some measures that can be used to improve access to clean water in developing nations?
What are some measures taken by Denmark to reduce food waste?
Discuss Sweden’s efforts to use waste for heating and energy.
How can we reduce pollution and improve the quality of care at the same time?

Environmental Research Topics for College Students

These sustainability topics for research papers are perfect for college students as they are most relevant and extremely interesting as well.

What are the best ways to deal with medical waste?
How has awareness about recycling improved sustainability efforts?
Is global warming false as some world leaders claim?
What are some ecological challenges that the US will face in the coming decades?
Will green universities improve students’ mental health?
How can growing your food help in improving sustainability?
What are the best measures that communities can take to prevent waste
What are the best ways to use landscaping sustainably?
Is gardening around the house a good way of improving the quality of air amidst growing pollution rates?
Should fireworks be banned?
How can we raise cattle sustainably?
How is the fashion industry impacting the environment?
Discuss the importance of sustainable fashion in the world we live in.
How can community gardens help cities become more sustainable?
How can you measure the success of a smart city by the well-being of its inhabitants?
What are smart cities? Can you provide examples?
How can digitization be used to pursue a sustainability agenda?
What are the various ecological dimensions of sustainability?
Should governments provide more grants for research on sustainability?
Discuss some sustainable measures that we can learn from our ancestors.
What is the impact of America’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement?
What are the Paris Climate Agreement and its important terms?
How can changing policies from a macro level to a micro level improve sustainability efforts?
What are the best measures taken by the UN to improve sustainability?
Greta Thunberg: The poster child of climate change or a publicity stunt?
The most impactful environmentalists over the last decade.

Sustainability Topics for All Levels

These sustainability research paper topics are perfect for you whether you are writing a high school paper or a college paper. They are versatile and easy to compile.

How will our carbon footprint impact the generations to come?
What are the different types of sustainability?
What does sustainability education mean?
How can your school or college improve its regulations to make the campus sustainable?
Are there any sustainability programs that have been implemented in your school or college?
Do solar panels on buildings help reduce energy costs?
What are the benefits of including sustainability education in the school curriculum?
How does non-plastic waste in the oceans impact the environment?
How to prevent the greenhouse effect from agriculture?
Should governments support and invest in more solar technologies?
How can a home become energy efficient with solar energy?
How does an improved ventilation system improve sustainability?
What are the measures taken by modern schools and colleges in improving sustainability?
How can modern classrooms make use of natural light for better sustainability?
How can we save on energy by setting systems off when they are still idle.
What are the various benefits of changing classroom timings to optimize the use of natural lighting?
Is it possible to apply a game theory to manage challenges with sustainability?
What is the difference between biocapacity and carbon footprint in various regions?
What are some challenges faced by companies when it comes to conserving energy?
Can you name some environmental groups that have been most effective in cleaning up plastic from the oceans and how they have achieved their goals?
What are some positive effects of reducing computer screen brightness?
Name some countries with the poorest environmental laws?
A case study of the most sustainable nations in the world.
The effect of plastic on the environment in detail.
What are some effective measures of saving water?
A study of oil spills and their effect on marine life over the last decade.

Environmental Project Topics

Have an environmental sustainability topic due? This sustainability topics list is all you need to present projects that grab the attention of your audience.

What are some barriers and drivers of sustainability research?
How does on-campus sustainable research help increase practical solutions for environmental sustainability?
Provide a business case to install new lighting systems
What are some lighting systems available today that are most sustainable?
Needs luxury led to an unsustainable environment?
What are the benefits of using electric cars?
The most impactful evidence to prove that global warming is real.
Do political agendas suppress sustainability efforts? How?
What are some of the major threats of climate change?
The importance of teaching children about sustainability
What are some of the most common examples of wasteful living that you see around you?
The relationship between undernutrition, obesity, and climate change.
Why has ice loss across the Himalayas become rapid over the last 40 years?
How quickly are we depleting natural resources?
How does the medical industry contribute to global warming?
What is the Lancet Countdown on climate change and health?
Does climate change impact the health of newborn children?
How has industrialization helped and harmed the environment?
The use of heating and cooling systems and their impact on the environment.
The harmful impact of the film industry on the environment
Celebrities who have successfully endorsed anti-climate change campaigns
KFC and the Amazon Rainforests: What was the chaos about?
How has the fast-food industry impacted the environment?
The contribution of the aviation industry toward global warming
What is a carbon tax and how can it help improve efforts towards sustainability?
Write about the development of waste streams over the last few decades.
Are newspapers viable in times of sustainability?
The importance of enhancing biodiversity to reduce environmental deterioration.
Can improving safety regulations for cyclists contribute to sustainability?
What are some of the most sustainable multi-national companies? Discuss their strategies.

Sustainable Development Topics

Development is a very important topic for research paper writing for students of environmental studies. Here are some sustainability topics for research related to development to help you get started.

How has economic globalization impacted the environment?
What is the relationship between autocracy, democracy, wars, and natural resources?
How does a finite environmental capacity impact political and economic development?
Changing human behavior and the use of natural resources.
Adaptation and mitigation policies to solve environmental issues.
The difference between the approach of a political institution and market-based requirements towards sustainability.
How has the automobile industry taken steps towards sustainability?
What are some effects of Green Technology on the economy?
What is the advantage of using Green Technology in organizations?
A detailed study of the Global Environmental Sustainability Framework to technology.
How can digitization be used to improve awareness about sustainability?
Is it practical to implement Green technology in developing countries? What are the best measures that can be taken?
How can construction become sustainable?
How can Green Thinking help improve sustainability?
What is the perception of green energy and sustainability in multinational organizations?
What are some sustainability policies that have helped developing nations?
The impact of digitization on sustainability
What are the current trends in Green Technology?
Should builders receive incentives for constructing sustainable structures?
Incentives for sustainability in industrial settings.
The most effective option for disposing of electronic waste.
How advancement in medical technology has impacted the environment
The relationship between motorsports and the environment.
Do large public events like concerts and sports events impact sustainability?
The impact of styrofoam cups on the environment.
Advancements in technology have contributed to sustainability.
Scientists who have contributed effectively towards sustainability.

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80 sustainability research topics for students to explore green campus issues

You’re planning your thesis, paper or capstone? You want to do a student research project with impact. We have outlined a range of sustainability research topics for you. The list specifically focuses on how to green your campus . Take action to make your university more sustainable!

Our list of sustainability research topics helps students investigate green campus issues.

Sustainability research topics: Education

Some sustainability research topics on education for sustainable development :

What are the strengths and weaknesses of different definitions of sustainability education? Which definition could your university adopt?
To what extent is sustainability education already implemented in the curriculum of your university?
What are the strengths and limitations of advancing sustainability education within your curriculum?
Where does your university stand with regards to sustainability education compared to other institutions of higher education?
What is the demand among students for more, different or better sustainability education?
How can existing sustainability projects on campus be used for educational purposes, e.g. visit solar cells on rooftops as part of engineering classes?

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What definition of sustainability research should your university embrace?
To what extent is sustainability research already practised at your university?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the institution’s sustainability research portfolio compared to other institutions of higher education?
What are the drivers of and barriers to sustainability research at your university?
How could sustainability research help students to study sustainability issues on campus and inform practical change projects?
What are the opportunities and costs associated with promoting sustainability research? What could a plan of action look like to strategically advance it?

Some sustainability research topics on community engagement and awareness:

What are the perceptions of and attitudes towards sustainability by students and staff?
What are ways to promote sustainable lifestyles among students?
To what extent are students and staff aware of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ?
How aware are students and staff about the institution’s sustainability ambitions?
What are the benefits and disadvantages of approaches to communicate the university’s sustainability efforts better?
What are the challenges to involve students and staff in the university’s sustainability efforts?
Which ways to increase the engagement of the campus community exist, for example by organising sustainability events ?

For inspiration, read our post on 10 projects to engage students on the SDGs .

Explore sustainability topics for research papers on different issues related to greening campus operations:

What are the opportunities and costs of improving the building insulations to save energy?
What lighting systems exist on the market that are more energy efficient?
What would a business case look like to install a new lighting system?
Where are the main consumers of energy on campus?
What innovative energy technologies are developed at the institution itself? To what extent could those be directly installed and tested in buildings?
What lux values are sufficient for work and study places so that places are appropriately lit without wasting too much electricity?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of different sustainable building standards?
Which building standards would be most appropriate to inform the institution’s sustainable building policy?
What are the costs and benefits associated with different types of green roofs?
On which buildings could green roofs be installed?
To what extent are catering and food products certified as organic or fair trade food?
How much and why do students attach importance to organic and fair trade products sold in the cafeteria?
How can students and employees be made more aware of the multiple benefits – e.g. health, environment, economics – of sustainable (organic, fair trade, local) food ?
How much are students willing to pay for more organic or fair trade products?
What types and amounts of waste are produced by whom and where at the institution?
How did waste streams develop over the last years?
What are innovative practices in reducing waste going to landfill or incineration? How could those be applied?
What are the costs and benefits associated with waste recycling ?
What options exist to switch from paper-based to more digital forms of working and studying to reduce paper consumption?
What are the environmental, economic, and social benefits and disadvantages of different options to advance more digital working and studying?

More sustainability research topics on campus operations:

Biodiversity

What species live at different campus locations?
To what extent do students, faculty and staff value this biodiversity?
What are ways to enhance biodiversity on campus?

Greenhouse-gase (GHG)

What are the pros and cons of different GHG accounting standards?
Which standard should the institution use to develop a GHG emissions inventory ?
Where are GHG emissions released at the institution?
How big is the institution’s GHG footprint?

Procurement

What does sustainable procurement mean in the context of a university?
How is procurement currently organised? To what extent are sustainability criteria already applied in tenders?
To what extent could the university implement sustainability criteria that go beyond the legal minimum to advance the environmental, economic and social benefits of tenders?
What are the largest consumers of water?
What is the direct and indirect water-footprint of the institution?
What are opportunities and costs to reduce water usage?

Transportation and mobility

How do students and staff currently travel to the university and as part of their study or work?
What is the environmental impact of these travel behaviours? How could the impact be reduced?
What best practices exist among companies and other institutions of higher education to reduce staff travel or incentivize different travel behaviours?

Behaviour change

What is the potential to reduce resource consumption through behaviour change?
What are the best practices of behaviour change interventions at institutions of higher education?
To what extent could these projects be also applied at your university?

Sustainability research topics on governance, strategy and reporting

Sustainability research topics on governance issues:

What does sustainability mean for institutions of higher education?
How does a comprehensive concept of a sustainable institution of higher education look like?
How could the university’s long-term sustainability vision look like? How could this vision be realized through a roadmap?
What are innovative ways to develop sustainability strategies for a university through a bottom-up approach?
What ethical imperatives would demand that institutions of higher education care for their impact on the planet, people and profit?
What are the responsibilities of institutions of higher education to contribute to global challenges, such as poverty, gender inequality, and climate change?

Monitoring and reporting

What data is important to monitor the institution’s environmental impact? How can this data be collected and analysed?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of different sustainability reporting standards?
Which sustainability reporting standards should the university adhere to?
What are efficient ways to organize sustainability reporting within the organization?
What is the best way to communicate results among students, staff and outside actors?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of different methodologies (e.g. payback or Net Present Value) to calculate the financial costs and benefits of sustainability investments?
Which methodology should the institution apply?
To what extent could sustainability projects be financed through a revolving loan fund?
What are the possibilities to involve outside organizations through energy contracting?
What subsidies are available at the European, national and city level to develop a green campus?
How could the university use these financing options to advance its energy transition?
What are approaches to integrate negative externalities into the accounting schemes of the university?
What would be the opportunities, benefits and risks associated with establishing an energy company that’s owned by the university?
What are the best practices to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at public institutions around the world?
How can incentive schemes be changed so that energy end-users directly benefit from reductions in energy usage?

We hope this list inspired you to find a sustainability topic for research papers.

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Sustainable Development Research Paper Topics

In this comprehensive guide to sustainable development research paper topics , we explore the diverse and critical issues related to sustainable development within the field of environmental science. Sustainable development encompasses the principles of economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection, aiming to create a better future for present and future generations. This abstract provides an overview of the page’s content, including a comprehensive list of sustainable development research paper topics, expert advice on topic selection, and guidance on writing a sustainable development research paper. Additionally, we introduce our writing services, offering students the opportunity to order custom research papers on any sustainable development topic. Through this page, students can gain valuable insights and resources to contribute to the advancement of sustainable development research.

100 Sustainable Development Research Paper Topics

The field of sustainable development encompasses a wide range of interconnected topics that address the environmental, social, and economic challenges facing our world today. To assist you in your research endeavors, we have compiled a comprehensive list of sustainable development research paper topics. These topics span across various disciplines and offer opportunities for in-depth exploration and critical analysis. By examining these topics, you can contribute to the understanding of sustainable development and develop innovative solutions for a more sustainable future.

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Environmental Conservation and Biodiversity

The role of protected areas in biodiversity conservation
Sustainable management of forests and its impact on biodiversity
Conservation strategies for endangered species
Implications of climate change on biodiversity loss
Sustainable practices for marine and coastal conservation
Wildlife trafficking and its impact on biodiversity
The role of indigenous knowledge in biodiversity conservation
Strategies for promoting urban biodiversity
Ecosystem restoration and its benefits for biodiversity
Evaluating the effectiveness of conservation policies and programs

Sustainable Energy

Transitioning to renewable energy sources: Challenges and opportunities
Energy efficiency and its impact on sustainable development
The role of nuclear energy in achieving a sustainable energy future
Sustainable transportation systems: Innovations and policies
Community-based renewable energy projects
Energy access and sustainability in developing countries
The social, economic, and environmental impacts of fossil fuel extraction
Advancements in energy storage technologies
Smart grid systems and their contribution to sustainable energy
The role of government policies in promoting renewable energy adoption

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

Assessing the effectiveness of international climate agreements
Climate change and its impacts on vulnerable communities
The role of renewable energy in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Carbon pricing mechanisms: Prospects and challenges
Urban planning for climate change resilience
Climate change adaptation strategies in agricultural systems
Impacts of climate change on water resources and management
Sustainable cities and climate change mitigation
The role of education in fostering climate change awareness and action
Assessing the socio-economic implications of climate change policies

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

Organic farming practices and their impact on food security
Sustainable agriculture and water management
The role of genetic engineering in sustainable crop production
Agroecology and its potential for sustainable food systems
Urban agriculture and its contribution to food security
Sustainable fisheries management and conservation
Climate-smart agriculture: Strategies for resilience and adaptation
The socio-economic impacts of agricultural subsidies
Sustainable food supply chains and distribution systems
Indigenous knowledge and sustainable agricultural practices

Social Equity and Justice

Social sustainability and inclusive development
Gender equality and empowerment in sustainable development
Indigenous rights and sustainable resource management
Ensuring access to education and healthcare in marginalized communities
Social impact assessment in development projects
Strategies for poverty alleviation and economic empowerment
Promoting social entrepreneurship for sustainable development
Environmental justice and equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens
The role of social movements in advancing sustainable development goals
Promoting inclusive governance for sustainable development

Sustainable Urban Development

Urbanization and its impact on the environment and society
Sustainable urban planning and design
Green infrastructure and urban resilience
Transportation and mobility in sustainable cities
Affordable housing and sustainable urban development
Smart cities: Technologies and applications for sustainability
Urban governance and stakeholder engagement in sustainable development
Sustainable waste management in urban areas
Strategies for promoting sustainable consumption and production in cities
Sustainable tourism and its role in urban development

Water Resources Management

Integrated water resources management for sustainable development
Water scarcity and its implications for sustainable development
Water governance and institutional frameworks
Sustainable approaches to water supply and sanitation
Water pollution and its impacts on ecosystems and human health
Water-related conflicts and their resolution
Climate change and water resources management
Water footprint analysis and sustainable consumption
Indigenous water rights and traditional knowledge in water management
Innovative technologies for water conservation and management

Sustainable Business Practices

Corporate social responsibility and sustainable business models
Circular economy and its application in business practices
Sustainable supply chain management
Green marketing and consumer behavior
Sustainable finance and investment strategies
Corporate sustainability reporting and transparency
Ethical considerations in business decision-making
Sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation
Environmental management systems and certifications
Stakeholder engagement and sustainability in business

Environmental Policy and Governance

International environmental agreements and their effectiveness
Policy instruments for environmental conservation and sustainability
Environmental impact assessment and decision-making processes
Public participation in environmental decision-making
Climate change policy and governance mechanisms
Environmental justice and policy implications
Regulatory frameworks for natural resource management
The role of non-governmental organizations in environmental advocacy
Policy integration for sustainable development
Evaluation and monitoring of environmental policies and programs

Sustainable Development and Technology

Technological innovations for sustainable development
The role of information and communication technology in achieving sustainability goals
Green building design and sustainable architecture
Renewable energy technologies and their integration into the grid
The impact of digitalization on sustainable development
Sustainable transportation technologies and solutions
Internet of Things (IoT) and its applications for sustainability
Blockchain technology and its potential for sustainable supply chains
Big data analytics for environmental monitoring and resource management
Technological solutions for waste management and recycling

The field of sustainable development is vast and dynamic, presenting numerous avenues for research and inquiry. The comprehensive list of sustainable development research paper topics provided here offers a starting point for your exploration and provides inspiration for further investigation. As you embark on your research journey, remember to select a topic that aligns with your interests, leverage interdisciplinary perspectives, and consider the practical implications of your findings. Through your research, you have the potential to make a significant impact on the field of sustainable development and contribute to the ongoing efforts of creating a more sustainable and equitable world.

Sustainable Development Research Guide

As students of environmental science, you have a unique opportunity to explore the multifaceted field of sustainable development and contribute to the ongoing efforts in creating a more sustainable future. This page serves as a valuable resource for your research endeavors, providing a curated list of sustainable development research paper topics, expert advice on topic selection, and practical guidance on writing a sustainable development research paper.

Sustainable development is a critical concept in today’s world, addressing the complex interplay between economic growth, social well-being, and environmental stewardship. By studying sustainable development, you delve into topics such as renewable energy, climate change adaptation, sustainable urban planning, natural resource management, and much more. Through your research, you can analyze current challenges, propose innovative solutions, and contribute to the global sustainability discourse.

This page aims to inspire and guide you in exploring the vast landscape of sustainable development research. We understand that choosing a research paper topic can be a daunting task, considering the multitude of issues and perspectives within this field. That’s why we have compiled a comprehensive list of sustainable development research paper topics, categorized into relevant themes, to help you find an area of interest that aligns with your academic goals and personal passion.

Furthermore, we provide expert advice on how to choose the most suitable sustainable development research paper topic. We will discuss the importance of selecting a focused and researchable topic, considering the scope and depth of available literature, and ensuring its relevance to current sustainability challenges. Additionally, we will guide you through the process of writing a well-structured research paper, emphasizing the critical elements such as literature review, methodology, data analysis, and conclusion.

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By utilizing our writing services, you gain access to in-depth research, customized solutions, and top-quality papers. We offer flexible pricing options to accommodate various budgets and short deadlines of up to 3 hours to meet even the most urgent requirements. Our commitment to timely delivery, 24/7 support, absolute privacy, easy order tracking, and a money-back guarantee ensures your satisfaction and peace of mind.

Choosing a Sustainable Development Topic

Choosing the right research topic is a critical step in the process of writing a sustainable development research paper. As a student of environmental science, you have the opportunity to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in this field and address pressing issues related to sustainability. However, with a multitude of potential topics to explore, it can be challenging to narrow down your focus and select a research question that is both relevant and impactful. In this section, we provide expert advice and practical tips to guide you in choosing sustainable development research paper topics. By following these suggestions, you can identify an area of interest, align your research with current trends, and contribute to the global discourse on sustainable development.

Identify your area of interest : Start by exploring the different aspects of sustainable development that interest you the most. This could be environmental conservation, social equity, renewable energy, or any other specific area within sustainable development.
Consider current issues and trends : Stay updated on the latest developments in sustainable development. Look for emerging challenges, debates, and innovative solutions that can form the basis of your research topic.
Conduct a literature review : Dive into existing research and literature on sustainable development to understand the gaps in knowledge and identify potential research areas that need further exploration.
Narrow down your focus : Once you have identified a broad topic, narrow it down to a specific research question or problem that you want to address. This will help you focus your research and provide a clear direction for your paper.
Look for interdisciplinary connections : Sustainable development is a multidisciplinary field, so consider how you can integrate different disciplines and perspectives into your research. This can lead to unique insights and innovative approaches.
Consider local and global contexts : Assess the relevance of your research topic in both local and global contexts. How does it relate to the specific challenges and needs of a particular region or community? How does it contribute to the broader sustainable development agenda?
Consult with experts and peers : Engage in discussions with professors, researchers, and peers who specialize in sustainable development. Seek their advice and gather different perspectives to refine your research topic.
Conduct a feasibility assessment : Evaluate the feasibility of your research topic in terms of data availability, resources required, and potential challenges you may encounter. Ensure that you have access to relevant data and research materials to support your study.
Consider the practical implications : Reflect on the practical implications of your research topic. How can your findings contribute to policy development, community initiatives, or practical solutions in the field of sustainable development?
Align with your personal and career goals : Choose a research topic that aligns with your personal interests and long-term career aspirations. This will not only motivate you throughout the research process but also enhance your expertise in your chosen area of sustainable development.

Selecting a research topic in sustainable development requires careful consideration, as it sets the foundation for your entire research endeavor. By following the expert advice provided in this section, you can navigate through the vast landscape of sustainable development research paper topics and choose one that resonates with your passion, aligns with current issues, and has the potential for meaningful contribution. Remember to conduct thorough literature reviews, consult with experts, and ensure the feasibility and practical implications of your chosen topic. With these insights and guidelines, you are well-equipped to embark on your research journey and make a valuable contribution to the field of sustainable development. Embrace the opportunity to explore, learn, and create positive change through your research efforts.

How to Write a Sustainable Development Research Paper

Writing a sustainable development research paper requires careful planning, critical thinking, and effective execution. As a student of environmental science, you have the opportunity to delve into complex issues, propose innovative solutions, and contribute to the field of sustainability. However, the process of crafting a research paper can be daunting, especially if you are new to the academic research landscape. In this section, we provide you with valuable tips and guidance on how to write a sustainable development research paper. By following these steps, you can streamline your writing process, effectively communicate your ideas, and produce a high-quality research paper that contributes to the ongoing dialogue on sustainable development.

Choose a focused research topic : In the field of sustainable development, there are numerous areas to explore. Select a specific aspect that interests you and aligns with your academic goals. Consider topics such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, urban planning, climate change adaptation, or corporate social responsibility.
Conduct thorough background research : Before diving into your research paper, take the time to familiarize yourself with existing literature, theories, and concepts related to your chosen topic. This will help you gain a deeper understanding of the subject and identify any research gaps or areas for further exploration.
Formulate a clear research question : A well-defined research question is the backbone of any research paper. It should be concise, specific, and address a gap or challenge in sustainable development. Consider the broader implications and potential practical applications of your research question.
Develop a strong thesis statement : Craft a clear and compelling thesis statement that encapsulates the main argument or purpose of your research paper. Your thesis statement should reflect the significance of your research and provide a roadmap for the reader to understand the direction of your paper.
Gather reliable and relevant data : As you embark on your research journey, it is crucial to collect data from credible sources. Rely on academic journals, reputable organizations, government reports, and scientific databases to obtain reliable and relevant information. Ensure that the data you gather aligns with your research question and supports your arguments.
Analyze and interpret data : Once you have gathered your data, apply appropriate research methods and analytical tools to analyze and interpret the information. Utilize statistical analysis, qualitative research techniques, or a combination of both to derive meaningful insights from your data.
Provide evidence-based arguments : In a research paper, it is essential to support your claims and arguments with accurate and up-to-date evidence. Cite scholarly articles, empirical studies, case studies, or real-world examples to reinforce your ideas. This will add credibility to your research and strengthen your overall argument.
Structure your paper effectively : Organize your research paper in a logical and coherent manner. Start with an introduction that provides context, states your research question, and highlights the significance of your study. Follow with a comprehensive literature review that synthesizes existing knowledge and identifies gaps. Then, outline your research methodology, present your findings, engage in a critical discussion, and conclude with a summary of your main points and potential areas for future research.
Write in a clear and concise manner : Effective communication is crucial in academic writing. Use clear and concise language to convey your ideas effectively. Break down complex concepts into understandable terms and ensure that your writing is accessible to a wide audience. Avoid unnecessary jargon or technical language that may alienate readers.
Revise and edit your paper : Once you have completed the initial draft of your research paper, take the time to review and revise it thoroughly. Pay attention to the clarity of your arguments, the coherence of your ideas, and the overall flow of your writing. Edit for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors. Seek feedback from peers, professors, or academic mentors to gain different perspectives and improve the quality of your work.

Writing a sustainable development research paper is an exciting and rewarding endeavor that allows you to explore pressing environmental issues and propose meaningful solutions. By implementing the tips and strategies outlined in this section, you can enhance the quality and impact of your research paper. Remember to choose a clear and focused research question, conduct thorough literature reviews, use reliable and up-to-date sources, organize your ideas effectively, and critically analyze your findings. Additionally, seek feedback from peers and experts to refine your work and ensure its credibility. With dedication, perseverance, and the right approach, you can create a research paper that not only showcases your understanding of sustainable development but also contributes to the broader discourse on creating a sustainable future for our planet.

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Listed are various terms synonymous with sustainability. Use different terms when searching databases, and catalogs. From Virginia Tech’s Sustainability Research Guide.

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Movements

Agrarianism
Agricultural ecology
Agricultural land
Agri-environmental indicator
Agrobiodiversity
Agroecology
Agroecosystems
Agroforestry
Agroforestry systems
Agropastoral systems
Alternative agriculture
Alternative farming
Animal ecology
Appropriate technology
Arthropoda as biological pest control agents
Bacterial diversity
Best management practices (pollution prevention)
Bio-control
Biodiversity
Biodynamic farming or agriculture
Biofertilizers
Biointensive gardening
Biointensive integrated pest management
Biological control
Biological control agents
Biological diversity
Biological farming or agriculture
Biological indicators
Biological pest control agents
Biologically integrated farming systems
Bufferstrips
Carbon footprint (CF)
Carbon sequestration
Carrying capacity
Community food system
Community gardens
Community life
Community-based agriculture
Community-based economics
Community-supported agriculture (CSA)
Conservation
Conservation buffers
Conservation tillage
Controlled grazing
Crops — ecology
Dendroecology
Direct agricultural markets
Eco-agriculture
Ecological farming
Ecological farming or agriculture
Ecological footprint (ef)
Environmental indicators
Externalities
Externalities (economic)
Family farms
Farmers markets
Farmers’ markets
Farmland preservation
Farmland protection
Field crops — ecology
Food chains
Food circle
Food consumption
Food cooperatives (co-ops)
Food patriotism
Food policy
Food security
Food supply
Foodways (food symbolism and traditions)
Garden ecology
Good agricultural practices (gap)
Grass farming or agriculture
Grass-based farming or agriculture
Grassland management
Grazing intensity
Grazing systems
Green manuring
Green politics
High-intensity, low-frequency grazing (hilf)
Holistic management (HM)
Holistic range management
Holistic resource management (hrm)
Human ecology
Integrated agricultural systems
Integrated pest management
Intensive grazing
Kyusei nature farming or agriculture
Land use and sustainability
Life cycle and (environmental assessment or environmental impact)
Life cycle assessment
Local food movement
Local food system
Local foods
Local independent processors
Localist agriculture
Low input agriculture
Low input sustainable agriculture (LISA)
Management intensive grazing (MIG)
Market gardens
Microenvironments
Mini-farming
Natural farming or agriculture
Natural foods
Natural grasslands
Natural products in agriculture
Nematoda as biological pest control agents
Nutrient balance
Nutrient content
Nutrient management
Organic dairy farming
Organic farming
Organic fertilizers
Organic foods
Organic production
Pasture based farming or agriculture
Permaculture
Permanent grasslands
Pests — integrated control
Plant communities
Plant diversity
Plant ecology
Precision agriculture
Precision farming
Product life cycle
Regenerative agriculture or farming
Regional food
Resource management
Restoration ecology
Rhizosphere
Rotational grazing
Rural sustainability
Seed savers
Small farms
Soil bacteria
Soil biology
Soil ecology
Soil organic matter
Species diversity
Suburban agriculture
Sustainable agriculture
Sustainable development
Sustainable forestry
Sustainable horticulture
Sustainable tourism
Time-controlled grazing (TCG)
Urban agriculture
Voisin management grazing
Weed control
Weeds — biological control
Weeds — integrated control
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Research Topics & Ideas: Environment

100+ Environmental Science Research Topics & Ideas

Research topics and ideas within the environmental sciences

Finding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation, thesis or research project. Here, we’ll explore a variety research ideas and topic thought-starters related to various environmental science disciplines, including ecology, oceanography, hydrology, geology, soil science, environmental chemistry, environmental economics, and environmental ethics.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps . In this post, we’ll kickstart the process by sharing some research topic ideas within the environmental sciences. This is the starting point though. To develop a well-defined research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , along with a well-justified plan of action to fill that gap.

If you’re new to the oftentimes perplexing world of research, or if this is your first time undertaking a formal academic research project, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course. Also be sure to also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to develop a high-quality research topic from scratch.

Overview: Environmental Topics

Ecology /ecological science
Atmospheric science
Oceanography
Soil science
Environmental chemistry
Environmental economics
Environmental ethics
Examples of dissertations and theses

Topics & Ideas: Ecological Science

The impact of land-use change on species diversity and ecosystem functioning in agricultural landscapes
The role of disturbances such as fire and drought in shaping arid ecosystems
The impact of climate change on the distribution of migratory marine species
Investigating the role of mutualistic plant-insect relationships in maintaining ecosystem stability
The effects of invasive plant species on ecosystem structure and function
The impact of habitat fragmentation caused by road construction on species diversity and population dynamics in the tropics
The role of ecosystem services in urban areas and their economic value to a developing nation
The effectiveness of different grassland restoration techniques in degraded ecosystems
The impact of land-use change through agriculture and urbanisation on soil microbial communities in a temperate environment
The role of microbial diversity in ecosystem health and nutrient cycling in an African savannah

Topics & Ideas: Atmospheric Science

The impact of climate change on atmospheric circulation patterns above tropical rainforests
The role of atmospheric aerosols in cloud formation and precipitation above cities with high pollution levels
The impact of agricultural land-use change on global atmospheric composition
Investigating the role of atmospheric convection in severe weather events in the tropics
The impact of urbanisation on regional and global atmospheric ozone levels
The impact of sea surface temperature on atmospheric circulation and tropical cyclones
The impact of solar flares on the Earth’s atmospheric composition
The impact of climate change on atmospheric turbulence and air transportation safety
The impact of stratospheric ozone depletion on atmospheric circulation and climate change
The role of atmospheric rivers in global water supply and sea-ice formation

Topics & Ideas: Oceanography

The impact of ocean acidification on kelp forests and biogeochemical cycles
The role of ocean currents in distributing heat and regulating desert rain
The impact of carbon monoxide pollution on ocean chemistry and biogeochemical cycles
Investigating the role of ocean mixing in regulating coastal climates
The impact of sea level rise on the resource availability of low-income coastal communities
The impact of ocean warming on the distribution and migration patterns of marine mammals
The impact of ocean deoxygenation on biogeochemical cycles in the arctic
The role of ocean-atmosphere interactions in regulating rainfall in arid regions
The impact of ocean eddies on global ocean circulation and plankton distribution
The role of ocean-ice interactions in regulating the Earth’s climate and sea level

Tops & Ideas: Hydrology

The impact of agricultural land-use change on water resources and hydrologic cycles in temperate regions
The impact of agricultural groundwater availability on irrigation practices in the global south
The impact of rising sea-surface temperatures on global precipitation patterns and water availability
Investigating the role of wetlands in regulating water resources for riparian forests
The impact of tropical ranches on river and stream ecosystems and water quality
The impact of urbanisation on regional and local hydrologic cycles and water resources for agriculture
The role of snow cover and mountain hydrology in regulating regional agricultural water resources
The impact of drought on food security in arid and semi-arid regions
The role of groundwater recharge in sustaining water resources in arid and semi-arid environments
The impact of sea level rise on coastal hydrology and the quality of water resources

Research Topic Kickstarter - Need Help Finding A Research Topic?

Topics & Ideas: Geology

The impact of tectonic activity on the East African rift valley
The role of mineral deposits in shaping ancient human societies
The impact of sea-level rise on coastal geomorphology and shoreline evolution
Investigating the role of erosion in shaping the landscape and impacting desertification
The impact of mining on soil stability and landslide potential
The impact of volcanic activity on incoming solar radiation and climate
The role of geothermal energy in decarbonising the energy mix of megacities
The impact of Earth’s magnetic field on geological processes and solar wind
The impact of plate tectonics on the evolution of mammals
The role of the distribution of mineral resources in shaping human societies and economies, with emphasis on sustainability

Topics & Ideas: Soil Science

The impact of dam building on soil quality and fertility
The role of soil organic matter in regulating nutrient cycles in agricultural land
The impact of climate change on soil erosion and soil organic carbon storage in peatlands
Investigating the role of above-below-ground interactions in nutrient cycling and soil health
The impact of deforestation on soil degradation and soil fertility
The role of soil texture and structure in regulating water and nutrient availability in boreal forests
The impact of sustainable land management practices on soil health and soil organic matter
The impact of wetland modification on soil structure and function
The role of soil-atmosphere exchange and carbon sequestration in regulating regional and global climate
The impact of salinization on soil health and crop productivity in coastal communities

Topics & Ideas: Environmental Chemistry

The impact of cobalt mining on water quality and the fate of contaminants in the environment
The role of atmospheric chemistry in shaping air quality and climate change
The impact of soil chemistry on nutrient availability and plant growth in wheat monoculture
Investigating the fate and transport of heavy metal contaminants in the environment
The impact of climate change on biochemical cycling in tropical rainforests
The impact of various types of land-use change on biochemical cycling
The role of soil microbes in mediating contaminant degradation in the environment
The impact of chemical and oil spills on freshwater and soil chemistry
The role of atmospheric nitrogen deposition in shaping water and soil chemistry
The impact of over-irrigation on the cycling and fate of persistent organic pollutants in the environment

Topics & Ideas: Environmental Economics

The impact of climate change on the economies of developing nations
The role of market-based mechanisms in promoting sustainable use of forest resources
The impact of environmental regulations on economic growth and competitiveness
Investigating the economic benefits and costs of ecosystem services for African countries
The impact of renewable energy policies on regional and global energy markets
The role of water markets in promoting sustainable water use in southern Africa
The impact of land-use change in rural areas on regional and global economies
The impact of environmental disasters on local and national economies
The role of green technologies and innovation in shaping the zero-carbon transition and the knock-on effects for local economies
The impact of environmental and natural resource policies on income distribution and poverty of rural communities

Topics & Ideas: Environmental Ethics

The ethical foundations of environmentalism and the environmental movement regarding renewable energy
The role of values and ethics in shaping environmental policy and decision-making in the mining industry
The impact of cultural and religious beliefs on environmental attitudes and behaviours in first world countries
Investigating the ethics of biodiversity conservation and the protection of endangered species in palm oil plantations
The ethical implications of sea-level rise for future generations and vulnerable coastal populations
The role of ethical considerations in shaping sustainable use of natural forest resources
The impact of environmental justice on marginalized communities and environmental policies in Asia
The ethical implications of environmental risks and decision-making under uncertainty
The role of ethics in shaping the transition to a low-carbon, sustainable future for the construction industry
The impact of environmental values on consumer behaviour and the marketplace: a case study of the ‘bring your own shopping bag’ policy

Examples: Real Dissertation & Thesis Topics

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various environmental science-related degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

The physiology of microorganisms in enhanced biological phosphorous removal (Saunders, 2014)
The influence of the coastal front on heavy rainfall events along the east coast (Henson, 2019)
Forage production and diversification for climate-smart tropical and temperate silvopastures (Dibala, 2019)
Advancing spectral induced polarization for near surface geophysical characterization (Wang, 2021)
Assessment of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter and Thamnocephalus platyurus as Tools to Monitor Cyanobacterial Bloom Development and Toxicity (Hipsher, 2019)
Evaluating the Removal of Microcystin Variants with Powdered Activated Carbon (Juang, 2020)
The effect of hydrological restoration on nutrient concentrations, macroinvertebrate communities, and amphibian populations in Lake Erie coastal wetlands (Berg, 2019)
Utilizing hydrologic soil grouping to estimate corn nitrogen rate recommendations (Bean, 2019)
Fungal Function in House Dust and Dust from the International Space Station (Bope, 2021)
Assessing Vulnerability and the Potential for Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in Sudan’s Blue Nile Basin (Mohamed, 2022)
A Microbial Water Quality Analysis of the Recreational Zones in the Los Angeles River of Elysian Valley, CA (Nguyen, 2019)
Dry Season Water Quality Study on Three Recreational Sites in the San Gabriel Mountains (Vallejo, 2019)
Wastewater Treatment Plan for Unix Packaging Adjustment of the Potential Hydrogen (PH) Evaluation of Enzymatic Activity After the Addition of Cycle Disgestase Enzyme (Miessi, 2020)
Laying the Genetic Foundation for the Conservation of Longhorn Fairy Shrimp (Kyle, 2021).

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are quite specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. To create a top-notch research topic, you will need to be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you’ll need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

Need more help?

If you’re still feeling a bit unsure about how to find a research topic for your environmental science dissertation or research project, be sure to check out our private coaching services below, as well as our Research Topic Kickstarter .

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100 Exceptional Sustainability Topics for 2023

Do you have an important environmental studies paper but are having trouble coming up with sustainability project ideas? Have you pored over your class notes and readings but have yet to come up with sustainability ideas you find interesting and challenging? This happens to a lot of students, especially when they are swamped with several other academic responsibilities to deal with.

Best Sustainability Topics For Your Research

We’ve put together 100 exceptional sustainability topics that can be used for a variety of situations. The list covers topics in sustainability for grade school, middle school, high school, college, and graduate school. Check out our list and see what inspires you. Our ecology topics may also come in handy.

Sustainability Topics for Students in Grade School

Describe the impact our carbon footprint means on future generations.
Describe the differences in sustainability education.
Explain how your school can adopt practices for a sustainable campus.
Does your school already adapt to a good sustainability program?
Does your school have solar panels on its buildings’ rooftops?
What are the benefits of adopting sustainability education into curricula?

Sustainability Paper Topics for Middle School

What does the impact of non-plastic waste in our oceans mean for the environment?
What effect do greenhouses have in growing our fruits and vegetables?
Should governments invest more in solar energy technologies?
How do solar panels make a home energy efficient?
Does your school have an optimized ventilation system?
Do modular classrooms improve campus sustainability?

Sustainability Research Topics for High School Students

Explain how modular classrooms can improve sustainability through the use of natural light.
What evidence is there to support that sustainable classrooms reduce absenteeism?
How much energy is saved by setting computers to shut off when they are idle?
What are the benefits of changing classroom hours to utilize natural lighting?
Should school terms be arranged around the seasons to conserve energy?
Can a game theory be applied to challenges in sustainability?

Sustainability Essay Topics for College Students

Explain how carbon footprint and bio-capacity differ in different countries and regions.
What are the biggest challenges companies face when trying to conserve energy?
What are the most impactful environmental groups cleaning up plastic in the oceans?
How many tons of plastic is there in the ocean?
What are the positive effects of reducing the brightness of computer screens?
Which countries have the least environmental protection laws?

Sustainability Dissertation Topics for Ph.D. Students

Compare and contrast non-profit groups focused on advancing sustainability.
Do sustainable classroom designs improve learning in students?
Can employers save on energy costs by adding more natural lighting?
What types of technologies exist to help deter environmental pollution?
Is veganism good for the environment?
Are paper towels more effective than hand dryers at reducing the spread of germs?

Environmental Sustainability Topics for Every Occasion

What is the correlation between a country’s GDP and pollution?
Why do cities with higher poverty rates struggle to start recycling programs?
What are the biggest political challenges affecting the U.S. environment?
What are the positive effects of switching to a vegan diet?
Should the U.S. take a greater role in helping third-world countries become sustainable?
How effective are your local environmental policies?

Interesting Sustainability Topics for Papers

Should college campuses ban the use of plastics?
How does the amount of food consumption impact the environment?
What does Sweden do so differently from other countries regarding its environment?
What are the best technologies in the market to reduce waste in large cities?
How does the use of plastic floating balls reduce evaporation in reservoirs?
Why has the United States failed to reduce the amount of food waste?

Sustainability Topics for Essays to Do Overnight

In what ways do improved recycling technologies impact how waste ends up in landfills?
How bad are plastic straws for the Earth’s environment?
Do taxes on single-use items reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills?
Explain why certain states in the U.S. have had success banning plastic bags?
What is the correlation between overpopulation and pollution?
How will the world’s population in fifty years impact the Earth’s environment?

Sustainability Hot Topics for 2023

Does the Earth have enough resources to support the population in the 21 st century?
What can governments do to increase food resources?
Should cities ban the use of plastic straws?
Why is sea life so important to the ecosystem?
How much of our carbon footprint comes from farm animals?
Why is it so important to keep waste from ending up in our oceans?

Topics on Sustainability for a Long-Term Project

What are the benefits of getting a fair-trade certification on university campuses?
What are the benefits of buying food from local farmers?
Can your city impose a food donation program?
What can you do to bring a farmers market to your community?
Does buffet-style dining help or harm sustainability efforts?
Should cities impose a special tax on single-use plastic items?

Topics about Sustainability for a Short-Term Project

Can cafeteria food leftovers be donated to homeless shelters?
How do food programs help communities?
How much land is necessary to grow vegan food products?
What can cities do to help families with children during the pandemic?
What does it mean to be sustainable in the 21 st century?
Why is it important to support local food markets?

Sustainability Projects Ideas for High School Students

What would happen to greenhouse emissions if people ate less meat?
Can we improve air quality by eating less red meat?
What are the benefits of eating a plant-based diet?
Should your school introduce more vegan food choices?
Are pescatarian diets better for the environment?
What are the negative environmental effects of slaughterhouses?

Sustainability Ideas for Schools with Large Populations

What would happen if restaurants served buffet-like meals?
How difficult is it to reduce air pollution in large cities?
Should cities mandate community gardens to reduce food waste?
What are the benefits of incorporating public transportation systems?
Should cities mandate the use of solar panels in their larger buildings?

Controversial Sustainability Topics for Grad-Level Courses

Should we reduce the amount of technology-use to help the environment?
Do smaller classroom sizes help or harm the environment?
What would happen if we reduced the school week from five to four days?
Do shorter school days help reduce energy use?
In what ways has the Covid-19 pandemic affected the environment?

Fun Sustainability Topics List to Try at Home

Develop a sustainable education program for your family.
Find a new change to make your home more sustainable each week.
Teach your children the difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources.
Does keeping a home at a certain temperature help reduce energy costs?
How much food goes unused and ends up in your trash?

Sustainability Topics for Research Everyone Can All Do

How does pollution increase the level of sickness in people?
How does a developing country provide ample water resources?
In what ways does government policy help or hurt the environment?
Should cities create more public spaces (e.g. parks, riverbeds)?
What can be done to help developing countries maintain clean water?

Topics of Sustainability for Young People

Sift through your classroom’s trash and identify what can be renewed.
Discuss how Sweden has been able to turn its waste into heating.
What has Denmark done to reduce its food waste?
How can we improve the quality of care by reducing pollution?
What is the major ecological challenge the U.S. must face in the next 50 years?

Sustainability Research Paper Topics for Everyone

How do “green universities” help the mental health of students?
What are the most effective methods of growing your food?
What can people do in the community to reduce unnecessary waste?
How does gardening or landscaping improve air quality around the home?
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Past, present, and future of sustainable finance: insights from big data analytics through machine learning of scholarly research

Original Research
Published: 04 January 2022

Cite this article

Satish Kumar 1 , 2 ,
Dipasha Sharma 3 ,
Sandeep Rao 4 ,
Weng Marc Lim 2 , 5 &
Sachin Kumar Mangla ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-7166-5315 6

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A Correction to this article was published on 10 February 2022

This article has been updated

Sustainable finance is a rich field of research. Yet, existing reviews remain limited due to the piecemeal insights offered through a sub-set rather than the entire corpus of sustainable finance. To address this gap, this study aims to conduct a large-scale review that would provide a state-of-the-art overview of the performance and intellectual structure of sustainable finance. To do so, this study engages in a review of sustainable finance research using big data analytics through machine learning of scholarly research. In doing so, this study unpacks the most influential articles and top contributing journals, authors, institutions, and countries, as well as the methodological choices and research contexts for sustainable finance research. In addition, this study reveals insights into seven major themes of sustainable finance research, namely socially responsible investing, climate financing, green financing, impact investing, carbon financing, energy financing, and governance of sustainable financing and investing. To drive the field forward, this study proposes several suggestions for future sustainable finance research, which include developing and diffusing innovative sustainable financing instruments, magnifying and managing the profitability and returns of sustainable financing, making sustainable finance more sustainable, devising and unifying policies and frameworks for sustainable finance, tackling greenwashing of corporate sustainability reporting in sustainable finance, shining behavioral finance on sustainable finance, and leveraging the power of new-age technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, internet of things, and machine learning for sustainable finance.

A Bibliometric Analysis of Sustainable Finance

Artificial Intelligence for a Sustainable Finance: A Bibliometric Analysis

Financial Sector Growth, Consolidation, and New Technologies Make It a Powerful Actor in Tackling Global Environmental Challenges

Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.

1 Introduction

As a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and improve the lives and prospects of everyone around the world, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that have been adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 and expected to be achieved by 2030 (United Nations, 2020 ). The United Nations estimates an investment in the range of $5 trillion to $7 trillion to achieve the SDGs (Craig, 2021 ). With the unprecedent outbreak of a global pandemic in 2020, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the SDG Finance Taxonomy to provide a roadmap for manage the financing and transaction costs of projects that are aligned to the SDGs (Wang et al., 2020 ). The taxonomy also calls for private capital, finance instruments, and support from financial institutions to contribute toward achieving the SDGs. SDG 17, which is about partnership for goals, is earmarked as a lynchpin for meeting the finance needs required for activities dedicated to achieving the SDGs (MacDonald et al., 2019 ; Rizzello & Kabli, 2020 ).

Sustainable finance has emerged as an important concept at the intersection of finance and the SDGs. More than $400 billion of new funds have been raised on capital markets in 2020, which includes $357.5 billion from sustainability bonds and $76.5 billion from green bonds (Refinitiv, 2020 ; United Nations, 2020 ). The definition of sustainable finance, however, is very broad, encompassing myriad dimensions of sustainable ways to attain finance and investment goals. The European Commission ( 2021 ) defines sustainable finance as an evolving process of considering environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in financial and investment decisions. However, this definition, which is limited to ESG factors, is very narrow. This calls for a broader and more encompassing definition that speaks to sustainability at large. In this regard, we propose that sustainable finance should encompass all activities and factors that would make finance sustainable and contribute to sustainability , a definition that we opine complements the myriad goals by different stakeholders, such as the European Commission’s ESG and the United Nations’ SDGs. Indeed, the attainment of sustainable policy objectives across numerous jurisdictions can be achieved through various ways such as climate finance, carbon and ESG disclosure, green bonds, and socially responsible investment (Alsaifi et al., 2020 ; Barua & Chiesa, 2019 ; Lokuwaduge & Heenetigala, 2017 ; Migliorelli, 2021 ; OECD, 2020 ; Widyawati, 2020 ), all of which can be covered under our umbrella definition of sustainable finance.

Considering the broad nature of sustainable finance and its importance for achieving the sustainability agenda, many studies have been undertaken to enhance the understanding and practice of sustainable finance. The recent review of sustainable finance by Cunha et al. ( 2021 ) exemplifies this observation, as the authors found that the extant literature on sustainable finance to be “excessively fragmented”, which makes it difficult to “identify what constitutes the field and what differentiates it from traditional finance”. However, their review, which shed light on the critical features of sustainable finance, the global initiatives for the promotion of sustainable finance, and the strategies and outcomes of the main players in sustainable finance, considered 166 articles only, though the field is in fact very much larger, as we demonstrate through the present review consisting of 936 articles. Noteworthily, no review, to date, has attempted to analyze the burgeoning field of sustainable finance without making excessive concessions, wherein overly stringent criteria are imposed to trim the corpus for review to a manageable size for review, as witness in the review by Cunha et al. ( 2021 ).

In this study, we aim to provide a state-of-the-art overview of sustainable finance research, taking into account all aspects and related articles in the field. That is to say, this study covers the entire spectrum of sustainable finance, and thus, it is not limited to any single aspect of the concept, as in the case of past reviews such as climate finance (Giglio et al., 2020 ) and green finance (Malhotra & Thakur, 2020 ). Moreover, this study uses an objective and a powerful review method, namely bibliometric analysis, which is highly suitable for reviewing fields with a large corpus of articles using quantitative techniques (Donthu et al., 2021a ; Pattnaik et al., 2020 ; Paul et al., 2021 ). Specifically, bibliometric analysis exemplifies the use of big data analytics through machine learning of scholarly research in two major ways, namely

the search for big data (bibliometrics) is carried out on an artificial intelligence-powered scientific database (Scopus), wherein the scientific database uses specified keywords for supervised machine learning , as a subset of artificial intelligence, to extract large amounts of bibliometric data relating to articles relevant to sustainable finance, and

the analysis of big data (bibliometrics), which is multi-faceted (e.g., journal, author, institution, country, keywords), multi-formatted (e.g., numbers, words), and large-scaled (e.g., thousands of data points across the multiple facets of 936 articles), is powered by unsupervised machine learning , as another subset of artificial intelligence, to discover latent relationships (e.g., interrelated keywords) and the equivalent clusters of latent relationships (e.g., major themes).

In this regard, this study significantly extends Cunha et al.’s ( 2021 ) review on sustainable finance to uncover the insights that they were not able to provide due to the inherent limitation of their manual and qualitative review of only a small corpus of the literature. Specifically, this study sheds light on the performance analysis and science mapping of the entire corpus of sustainable finance research using a bibliometric analysis, wherein the former unpacks the publication trend, the top articles and contributing journals, authors, institutions, and countries, and the methodological choices and research contexts, whereas the latter reveals the major themes and topics underpinning the intellectual structure of the field. In doing so, this study will contribute enriching insights that answer six research questions (RQs) that are typically reveal through bibliometric reviews (Donthu et al., 2021b , 2021c ; Kumar et al., 2021a , 2021b , 2021c ; Rao et al., 2021 ), and thus, provide a more accurate representation of the state of sustainable finance research as a whole as opposed to the piecemeal representation that emerges from a sample of the field, as in the case of Cunha et al. ( 2021 ):

RQ1. What is the publication trend for sustainable finance research?

RQ2. Which are the most influential articles and top contributing journals for sustainable finance research?

RQ3. Which are the top contributing authors, institutions, and countries for sustainable finance research?

RQ4. What methodological choices and research contexts exist for sustainable finance research?

RQ5. What are the major themes and topics for sustainable finance research?

RQ6. What are the future research directions for sustainable finance research?

The insights from this review can be used in several useful ways. First, both new and seasoned researchers in sustainable finance can gain an overview and up-to-date understanding of its publication trend to gauge its interest in the scientific community over time (RQ1). Second, prospective authors can identify key literature (articles, journals) (RQ2), potential collaborators (authors, institutions, countries) (RQ3), as well as methodologies and contexts (RQ4) for sustainable finance research through this review. The same applies for policy makers and industry practitioners who wish to identify experts for consultancy, key literature to inform decisions, as well as methodological and contextual guides for applied research. Third, prospective authors can use the major themes and topics revealed through this review as a means to differentiate and position their contributions or novelty against existing streams of sustainable finance research (RQ5). Fourth and finally, prospective authors can gain inspiration from the curation of research directions herein to embark on new and potentially fruitful sustainable finance research (RQ6). These directions can also serve as a teaser into new knowledge that policy makers and industry practitioners can expect to see from the literature in the near future. These contributions, which are typically expected of well-done reviews, are in line with the authoritative guidelines for literature reviews of the field (e.g., Donthu et al., 2021a ) and Paul et al., 2021 ).

The rest of this paper is organized as follows. The paper begins with an overview of sustainable finance. Next, the paper discloses the methodology and reports the findings of the review. Finally, the paper concludes with a future research agenda and a series of research questions for each major theme that can be used as a guide by prospective researchers to advance and fertilize the field of sustainable finance.

2 Sustainable finance

The literature on sustainable finance can be traced back to Ferris and Rykaczewski ( 1986 ), who addressed the concerns and benefits of social investing in portfolio management. Following this seminal article, the next decade of research (1986–1995) expanded the literature on the key success factors of socially responsible investing (Camey, 1994 ; Diltz, 1995 ). New research in the subsequent decade (1996–2005) extended understanding on socially responsible investing in terms of its performance against conventional funds (Guerard & John, 1997 ; Hutton et al., 1998 ; Statman, 2000 ) and the need to expand its scope to account for ethics (Wilson, 1997 ) and the environment (Heinkel et al., 2001 ) such as climate change and renewable energy (Van Der Laan & Lansbury, 2004 ). The later decade (2006–2015) sees the introduction and boom of new research such as carbon finance (Aglietta et al., 2015 ; Bredin et al., 2014 ; Purdon, 2015 ; Yenneti & Gamaralalage, 2012 ; Yeoh, 2008 ), climate finance (Brunner & Enting, 2014 ; Hogarth, 2012 ; Jakob et al., 2015 ; Vanderheiden, 2015 ), conscious capitalism (Sisodia, 2009 , 2013 ; Wang, 2013a , 2013b ), ESG-CSR and firm performance integration (Dorfleitner et al., 2015 ; Eccles & Viviers, 2011 ; Friede et al., 2015 ; Halbritter & Dorfleitner, 2015 ; Himick, 2011 ; Nielsen & Noergaard, 2011 ), and ethical investing (Bauer et al., 2007 ; Belghitar et al., 2014 ; Chow et al., 2014 ; Pender & Brocchetto, 2011 ; Richardson, 2009 ; Säve-Söderbergh, 2010 ; von Wallis & Klein, 2015 ; Watson, 2011 ). The most recent half decade (2015–2020) is characterized by research responding to the Paris agreement and the launch of the SDGs in 2015, with exponential growth in publications focusing on impact investing (Agrawal & Hockerts, 2019 , 2021 ; Caseau & Grolleau, 2020 ; Lieberman, 2020 ; Robb & Sattell, 2016 ; Viviani & Maurel, 2019 ) innovative financial instruments such as social impact bonds (Carè et al., 2020 ; Giacomantonio, 2017 ; Rizzello & Kabli, 2020 ; Torre, et al., 2019 ), and ESG investing and firm performance (Alessandrini & Jondeau, 2020 ; Chen & Mussalli, 2020 ; Giese et al., 2019 ; Landi & Sciarelli, 2019 ; Schramade, 2016 ). The summary of the brief evolution of sustainable finance research is presented in Fig. 1 , and will be investigated further in the later sections of this study.

Evolution of sustainable finance research. CSR Corporate social responsibility. ESG Environmental, social, and governance. SDG Sustainable development goals

Given the burgeoning research on sustainable finance, past researchers have also attempted to review the extant literature in the field. However, in most instances, such reviews were limited to a specific aspect of sustainable finance, and not sustainable finance as a whole. For example, using systematic reviews, researchers have consolidated the extant literature pertaining to climate finance (Giglio et al., 2020 ), ESG (Daugaard, 2020 ; Widyawati, 2020 ), green finance (Malhotra & Thakur, 2020 ; Zhang, et al., 2019 ), impact investing (Clarkin & Cangioni, 2016 ), and socially responsible investing (Camilleri, 2020 ; Fabregat-Aibar et al., 2019 ; Rahman, et al., 2020 ; Revelli & Viviani, 2015 ; Viviers & Eccles, 2012 ), and using bibliometric analysis, researchers such as Bui et al. ( 2020 ) have revealed insights on sustainable corporate finance albeit from a small corpus of 227 articles. Apart from Cunha et al. ( 2021 ), which is the only and most recent review of sustainable finance prior to the present review, no other review has attempted to review the field as a whole. Yet, as mentioned previously, the review by Cunha et al. ( 2021 ) remains limited to a small corpus of 166 articles, and thus, providing a snapshot rather than a state-of-the-art overview of sustainable finance research, wherein the absence and need of the latter to provide a comprehensive stock take of the field motivates the present review, whose methodology will be disclosed in the next section.

3 Methodology

This study collects bibliometric data on sustainable finance research for its review. To do so, this study adopts and implements the Scientific Procedures and Rationales for Systematic Literature Reviews (SPAR-4-SLR) protocol, which consists of three major stages, namely assembling , arranging , and assessing of articles (Paul et al., 2021 ). The summary of the review procedure is illustrated in Fig. 2 .

Systematic review procedure using the SPAR-4-SLR protocol

3.1 Assembling

To assemble the corpus of articles on sustainable finance, this study identified its search keywords relating to sustainable finance from the preliminary review of relevant literature in the previous section and consulted 10 experts to ascertain the suitability of those keywords to represent sustainable finance. This led to a combination of 17 keywords that can be organized into the following search string:

“carbon credit” OR “carbon finance” OR “carbon tax” OR “climate finance” OR “conscious capitalism” OR “ESG investing” OR “green bond” OR “green finance” OR “impact investing” OR “SDG financing” OR “socially responsible investing” OR “sustainability financing” OR “sustainability reporting” OR “sustainability risk disclosure” OR “sustainability risk management” OR “sustainable economy” OR “sustainable finance”

Following the identification of search keywords, this study conducted a search for articles using the aforementioned search string in the “article title, abstract, and keywords” on Scopus, which is the largest high-quality scientific database of scholarly articles (Comerio & Strozzi, 2019 ; Norris & Oppenheim, 2007 ), and thus chosen over its alternative, Web of Science, which contains less articles for review than Scopus (Paul et al., 2021 ). In total, 10,850 documents were returned from the search.

3.2 Arranging

To arrange the corpus of 10,850 articles returned from the assembling stage, this study used the category (code) function in Scopus to review the search results according to year , subject area , document type , publication stage , source type , and language , wherein search results were filtered and limited to “2020”, “business, management, and accounting”, “article”, “final”, “journal”, and “English” in those categories, respectively. These filters were imposed in line with the recommendations of Paul et al. ( 2021 ) because 2020 represented the latest full year run; sustainable finance resides within business, management, and accounting; non-articles such as editorials and notes may not be peer reviewed and the inclusion of reviews can lead to double-barreled insights; in-press articles were discarded as they have not been finalized; non-journal sources such as book, book chapter, and conference proceeding were excluded as they may not have undergone rigorous peer review; and non-English articles were not included on the basis of our limited language proficiency in languages other than English. This led to a reduced corpus consisting of 1,530 articles.

Following that, we downloaded and read each article, and eliminated another 594 articles that mentioned the search keywords sparingly. That is to say, the aspects of sustainable finance did not take center stage in the investigation of those articles, resulting in their removal. This led to a final corpus of 936 articles for review, which was confirmed following a random cross-check using other databases such as Google Scholar and publishers website such as Elsevier, Emerald, Sage, Springer, and Taylor and Francis to avoid unintended exclusion of relevant studies in the field (Goyal et al., 2021 ; Harari et al., 2020 ; Lim et al., 2021 ).

3.3 Assessing

To assess the final corpus of 936 articles on sustainable finance, which is a relatively large corpus, this study adopts a bibliometric analysis approach for its review. In essence, a bibliometric analysis uses quantitative techniques to appraise scientific information of scholarly articles (Donthu et al., 2021a ). Noteworthily, systematic reviews using bibliometrics are now a commonplace (Ellegaard & Wallin, 2015 ), including business in general (Baker et al., 2020 ; Donthu et al., 2021a ; Zupic & Čater, 2015 ) and finance in particular (Durisin & Puzone, 2009 ; Linnenluecke et al., 2018; Xu et al., 2018) as a bibliometric analysis can mitigate the potential bias that avail in manual (e.g., error prone) and qualitative (i.e., subjectivity) reviews using quantitative (i.e., objectivity) tools (Broadus, 1987 ; Burton et al., 2020 ), especially when the corpus for review is large (high hundreds to thousands of articles) (Donthu et al., 2021a ), as in the case of the present review (i.e., 936 articles). Following past reviews (Cobo et al., 2011 ; Donthu et al., 2020 , 2021d ; Khan et al., 2021 ), this study performs a bibliometric analysis using a performance analysis to delinate the publication trend, the top articles and contributing journals, authors, institutions, and countries, and the methodological choices and research contexts, and a science mapping via a temporal analysis using word clouds (Bastian et al., 2009; van Eck & Waltman, 2017 ) and a network analysis using keyword co-occurrence (Callon et al., 1983 ; Castriotta et al., 2019 ; Donthu et al., 2021a ; Newman & Girvan, 2004 ; Pesta et al., 2018 ) in VOSviewer (van Eck & Waltman, 2017 ) to unpack the major themes and topics underpinning the intellectual structure of sustainable finance research. To advance insights in the field, this study curates a future research agenda based on our reading of the articles and reflection of extant gaps under each major theme. The next sections report the findings of the review, wherein narratives are supplemented by figures and tables.

4.1 Performance analysis

Performance analysis is a bibliometric analysis technique that describes the performance of a research domain (Donthu et al., 2021a ), and in this case, the field of sustainable finance. This analysis is akin to that of the profiling of participants in empirical studies albeit in a more rigorous way through the use of bibliometric metrics (Donthu et al., 2021a ). In this study, a performance analysis is conducted to reveal (1) the publication trend, (2) the most influential articles, the top contributing (3) journals, (4) authors, (5) institutions, and (6) countries, and (7) the methodological choices and research contexts of sustainable finance research.

4.1.1 Publication trend for sustainable finance research

The year-wise publication trend of sustainable finance research is presented in Fig. 3 . The figure indicates that the first article on sustainable finance published in a journal indexed in Scopus appeared in 1986 (Ferris & Rykaczewski, 1986 ), and that publications in the field have grown over the last 35 years (1986–2020). With only a single publication in 1986 and single-digit publications in each ensuing year up to 2006, the field of sustainable finance has proliferated considerably in the next 15 years, with a record high of 193 publications in 2020. Noteworthily, an exponential increase in publications is witnessed from 2015 onwards, which is the year when the Paris agreement and the SDGs were signed by United Nations Member States. This is supported by a detailed scrutiny of the corpus, whereby close to 70% of articles were published between 2015 and 2020, thereby reaffirming 2015 as a landmark year for sustainable finance research.

Year-wise publication for sustainable finance research between 1986 and 2020

4.1.2 Most influential articles for sustainable finance research

The most influential articles for sustainable finance research in terms of citations are presented in Table 1 . The table indicates that Dedusenko’s ( 2017 ) article is the most cited article in the field, with an average of 43.67 citations per year and a total of 655 citations since its publication in 2006. This is followed by Viviers, Ractliffe, and Hand’s ( 2011 ) and Roundy’s ( 2019 ) articles in Journal of Banking and Finance and Journal of Financial Economics , which have been cited 500 and 431 times, respectively. Interestingly, the top three most-cited articles in the field are about impact investing, which highlights its prominence influence in the field. Noteworthily, the top 25 most-cited articles in the field have amassed a total of 5970 citations, which reflects the significant influence that sustainable finance research has had in the scientific community.

4.1.3 Top contributing journals for sustainable finance research

The corpus of 936 articles on sustainable finance were published across 416 journals, with Table 2 indicating that the top 24 contributing journals with a minimum of five articles on sustainable finance have published 334 (35.68%) articles in the field. Specifically, the top three most prolific journals are Sustainability , Journal of Business Ethics , and Journal of Sustainable Finance and Investment , with 52, 47, and 42 articles, respectively. However, in terms of influence, Journal of Business Ethics leads the pack with 2712 citations, followed by Journal of Banking and Finance and Climate Policy , with 1422 and 458 citations, respectively. Noteworthily, most of the top contributing journals have an impact factor above one and they are rated favorably (3 and 4) in the Academic Journal Guide by the Chartered Association of Business Schools, which indicates that sustainable finance as an area of research has received attention from some of the best journals in the field.

4.1.4 Top contributing authors for sustainable finance research

The top contributing authors for sustainable finance research are presented in Table 3 . The table indicates that Scholtens B. from University of Groningen, Netherlands and Cortez M.C. from University of Minho, Portugal are the two most prolific authors in the field with 10 articles each. This is followed by Richardson B.J. from University of British Columbia, United States and Dorfleitner G. from University of Regensburg, Germany with nine and eight articles, respectively. However, the most influential authors are S. Viviers from Stellenbosch University, South Africa and Hockerts K. from Copenhagen Business School, Denmark with 591 and 577 citations, respectively, though the latter (TC/TP = 144.28; TC/TCP = 192.33) yields a better average return of citations each year than the former (TC/TP and TC/TCP = 118.20). Taken collectively, the top 25 contributing authors for sustainable finance research have contributed a total of 132 (14.10%) articles that have amassed 2127 citations in the field.

4.1.5 Top contributing institutions for sustainable finance research

The top contributing institutions for sustainable finance research are presented in Table 4 . The table indicates that the most prolific institution in the field is University of Regensburg, Germany with 15 articles, followed by University of Oxford, United Kingdom with 13 articles, and University of British Columbia, Australia and University of California, United States with 12 articles each. However, the most influential institution is Tilburg University, the Netherlands with 1050 citations, followed by University of Mino, Portugal and Maastricht University, the Netherlands with 846 and 698 citations, respectively. Taken collectively, the top 25 contributing institutions for sustainable finance research have contributed a total of 211 (22.54%) articles that have amassed 6439 citations in the field.

4.1.6 Top contributing countries for sustainable finance research

The top contributing countries for sustainable finance research are presented in Table 5 . The table indicates that the most prolific country is the United States with 242 articles, followed by the United Kingdom and Germany with 131 and 90 articles, respectively. The United States and the United Kingdom also emerge as the top two most influential countries, with 4,986 and 2,799 citations, respectively, and they are joined by the Netherlands, which is the third most influential country with 2,194 citations. However, Portugal yields the highest average citation of 78.27 for the 13 articles that authors from the country have contributed to the field. While American and European countries dominate the list of the top 25 contributing countries, there is notable representation from African countries such as South Africa, Asian countries such as China and India, and Oceanic countries such as Australia. Despite this representation, only 71 out of 936 articles have drawn samples from African and Asian countries, which shows that the majority of research on sustainable finance continue to be America and Europe focused. Nonetheless, upon detailed scrutiny, we observe that sustainable finance research in African and Asian countries have begun to appear more prominently in the recent decade (2011–2020) (Fonta et al., 2018 ; Rajan et al., 2014 ; Urban & George, 2018 ; Viviers et al., 2011 ), which should and will likely to continue in the future.

4.1.7 Methodological choices and research contexts for sustainable finance research

The methodological choices (i.e., research approach, research design, data collection technique, and data analysis tool) and research contexts (i.e., industry focus, research focus, and geographical focus) for sustainable finance research are presented in Table 6 across decades and over a cumulative period of 35 years (1986–2020).

Panel A of Table 6 depicts the preference of research approach for sustainable finance research. The qualitative approach tops the chart as the most preferred research approach across all decades, with 53% of articles in the field using this research approach. The quantitative approach is the next most preferred research approach, constituting 38% of articles, whereas a mixed combination of the two approaches represents only 7.5% of articles in the corpus. Noteworthily, the share of the qualitative approach has been declining while the quantitative approach and the mixed approach have both gained increasing popularity over time, whereby the increased share of the quantitative approach being a reflection of the growing availability and accessibility of sustainable financial data, and the share of the mixed approach being a reflection of the increasing rigor required to publish sustainable finance research over time.

Panel B of Table 6 exhibits the preference of research design for sustainable finance research. The conceptual and empirical research designs were equally preferred in the field’s early years (37.03%), though a stronger preference for empirical research designs and a declining preference for conceptual research designs occur over time. There is also a notable increase in review research designs as time passes, which indicates the growing maturity of sustainable finance research given that reviews are a stock take of mature fields of research (Donthu et al., 2021a ). The same observation applies for the mixed research design, which is another point to substantial our previous inference that the expectation of rigor in sustainable finance research has increased over time. Nonetheless, interest in modeling research designs fluctuate and continue to remain relatively small.

Panel C of Table 6 illustrates the preference of data collection techniques for sustainable finance research. Noteworthily, archival data is the most preferred data collection technique across all time periods (46.15%), followed by interviews (23.29%) and case studies (19.66%). Surveys account for only 9.08%, whereas laboratory data makes up for only 0.75% of the corpus, which indicates that sustainable finance research have plenty of room to grow using a quantitative approach predicated on primary data. The rest of the 13.03% of the corpus do not utilize any data as they are mainly conceptual articles.

Panel D of Table 6 indicates the preference of data analysis techniques for sustainable finance researcher. Descriptive (28.31%) and regression (23.93%) techniques appear to be most preferred, with a large majority of studies not employing any specific data analysis techniques (38.03%). With regards to the former, we observe that research employing descriptive analysis typically offer basic descriptions of total, percentage, mean, median, and graphical representation of statistics, and advance descriptions using statistical analysis such as frequency analysis, t -test, and chi-square test, whereas research using regression analysis usually provide insights from ordinary least squares, logit, probit, panel, and vector-auto regression models. With regards to the latter, the nascent stage of sustainable finance in developing countries, which have yet to integrate sustainable finance in the economy and financial markets, could have led to a dearth of quantitative and statistical data for analysis, and thus, explaining why a large majority of studies do not employ any specific data analysis techniques. The rest of the 9.94% of the corpus have used other data analysis techniques such as CAPM modeling, Carhart modeling, data envelopment analysis, mathematical modeling, and variance-based techniques such as ANOVA, ANCOVA, MANOVA, and MANCOVA.

Panel E of Table 6 presents the industry focus of sustainable finance research. The panel indicates that research in the field have not been very focused to a specific industry as close to 70% of studies have not specified any industry of focus in their articles. Nonetheless, 30% of studies have adopted an industry focus, with services, especially financial services, being a highly popular industry due to the nature of sustainable finance (16.77%). Only 4% of studies have shown a preference for manufacturing, with a special focus given to energy and allied sectors due to the concepts of carbon, climate, and green financing. The rest of the corpus (9%) focus on both services and manufacturing, which have nonetheless been on a declining trend over time, indicating that the differences in each industry may be considerably challenging to be covered in a single study.

Panel F of Table 6 reveals the research focus of sustainable finance research in line with the classification by Gupta et al. ( 2009 ). The vast majority (93.2%) of studies in the field have focused on the application of existing concepts in the real-world settings, with few studies building (0.21%) and verifying (6.62%) theories, which signals immense room for theory development and testing to theorize phenomena on sustainable finance beyond the limited re-use of traditional theories such as agency theory, institutional theory, legitimacy theory, modern portfolio theory, resource dependency theory, and stakeholder theory.

Finally, Panel G of Table 6 shows the geographical focus of sustainable finance research. Though most studies have not focused on any specific country (67.52%), those studies that have are often seen focusing on a single country (22.54%) as opposed to multiple countries (9.94%), most of which are of a developed (89.10%) rather than a developing (10.90%) status.

4.2 Science mapping

Science mapping is an analysis that uncovers and provides a graphical representation of what knowledge exist and how they are interrelated in a domain (Donthu et al., 2021a ), and in this case, sustainable finance research. The science mapping of sustainable finance research is carried out using two bibliometric analysis techniques in VOSviewer, namely a temporal analysis using word clouds to unpack the major topics characterizing sustainable finance research across each time period, and a network analysis using keyword co-occurrence to reveal the major themes underpinning the intellectual structure of sustainable finance research over the last 35 years (1986–2020).

4.2.1 Temporal analysis using word clouds for sustainable finance research

The corpus of articles on sustainable finance research was segmented into four time periods: 1986 to 1995, 1996 to 2005, 2006 to 2015, and 2016 to 2020. The major topics in each time period uncovered through a temporal analysis are illustrated through the word clouds in Figs. 4 , 5 , 6 and 7 .

Sustainable finance research between 1986 and 1995

Sustainable finance research between 1996 and 2005

Sustainable finance research between 2006 and 2015

Sustainable finance research between 2016 and 2020

Figure 4 depicts the advent of “socially” “responsible” “investing” in the initial years of sustainable finance research between 1986 and 1995, wherein aspects such as “activities”, “beliefs”, “costs”, “personal” and “private” “portfolio”, “reputation” “management”, and “successful” “performance” were explored, including the use of theories such as “Keynes”(ian) “economics” (Camey, 1994 ; Diltz, 1995 ; Ferris & Rykaczewski, 1986 ; Herremans et al., 1993 ; Pierce, 1993 ).

Figure 5 exhibits the continued growth of “socially” “responsible” “investing” between 1996 to 2005 through the exploration of new areas that include “business-social” “activism”, “agency”, “challenges”, “responsibility”, and “strategies” for “communicating” and “making” a “difference” in “carbon”, “climate”, “ethical”, and “green” “issues”, the “funds” available for “investment, as well as the “implications” of this “alternative” “finance”, “changing” “behavior”, “debate”, and “diversification” for the “board”, “companies”, “consumer”, “corporations”, “investor”, and “shareholder”. The field in this decade also “gradually” “develops” toward addressing “contradictions” among “capitalists” to create a “better” impact on the “bottom-of-the-pyramid” and “eco-efficiency”, as well as finer-grained insights at the country level, such as those relating to “Austrian” and “Canadian” “companies”.

Figure 6 illustrates the continued growth of “socially” “responsible” “investing” between 2006 and 2015, including the noteworthy proliferation of research that begun in the previous decade relating to “carbon” and “climate” “fund” and “stock”, and the “case” or “evidence” of the “adaptation”, “change”, “impact”, and “role” that such “investments” have for “sustainability” and “sustainable” “development”. There is also ongoing research on “ethical” and “green” “funds” and their equivalent “costs”, as well as a greater presence of “empirical” “analysis” and inclusion of the “global” “economy” and “international” “markets” such as “Africa” and the “European” “market”. “Conscious” “capitalism” also emerges alongside “environmental”, “social”, and “governance” or “ESG” “fiduciary” and “mutual” “responsibility” among “corporate” “investors” and the aforementioned areas in this period (Halbritter & Dorfleitner, 2015 ; Jackson, 2013a , 2013b ; Mekonnen, 2014 ; Ryan, 2012; Viviers et al., 2011 ).

Finally, Fig. 7 indicates that “climate”, “green”, “impact”, and “social” finance” and “investment” took center stage between 2016 and 2020 subsequent to the “Paris” agreement and the launch of the SDGs in 2015. Noteworthily, the “study” of sustainable finance in this five-year period has engaged and presented a “case” “analysis” and “evaluation” of the “bond”, “equity”, and “fund” “portfolio” manifested through the aforementioned sustainable finance concepts in tandem with the “adaptation”, “agreement”, “approach”, “change”, “governance”, “model”, “policy”, and “risk” involved, as well as the corresponding “evidence” of the “role” and “impact” of such “investments” among “corporate” “investors” toward “ESG” “performance” and “sustainable” “development”, including in “emerging” and “international” “markets” such as “energy” and “China”, respectively.

4.2.2 Network analysis

Unlike the temporal analysis that employs word clouds and segments the corpus of articles on sustainable finance according to time periods to unpack the temporal evolution of topics in the field, the network analysis uses keyword co-occurrence on the entire corpus to unpack the major themes that characterize the intellectual structure of sustainable finance research since its inception in 1986 up to 2020. In this regard, the network analysis using keyword co-occurrence consolidates a wide range of topics according to thematic similarity, thereby shedding light on the major themes (or knowledge departments) in the field of sustainable finance. The major themes that emerged from the keyword co-occurrences in the network analysis of the entire corpus generated through VOSviewer are illustrated in Fig. 8 , whereas the accompanying descriptive is presented in Table 7 and the interrelatedness between themes is reported in Table 8 .

Keyword network of sustainable finance research. Red = socially responsible investing. Green = climate financing. Dark blue = green financing. Yellow = impact investing. Purple = carbon financing. Light blue = energy financing. Orange = governance of sustainable financing and investing. (Color figure online)

In total, the results of the network analysis of keyword co-occurrence presented in Fig. 8 and Table 7 reveal eight major themes pertaining to sustainable finance, namely socially responsible investing (first and red cluster), climate financing (second and green cluster), green financing (third and dark blue cluster), impact investing (fourth and yellow cluster), carbon financing (fifth and purple cluster), energy financing (sixth and light blue cluster), and governance of sustainable financing and investing (seventh and orange cluster).

The accompanying metrics in Table 7 shed light on the total occurrence (TO) of each keyword or topic, the degree of centrality (DC) measuring the number of connections for each keyword or topic, and the eigenvector centrality (EC) measuring the relative importance of each keyword or topic in terms of its connection to other keywords or topics, wherein keywords or topics with a high number of connections that are also connected to other keywords or topics with such characteristics will receive a higher EC score (Donthu et al., 2021a ).

The nature of interrelatedness of each major theme is reported in Table 8 , wherein two-way contributions are observed, though the contributions of one way may be notably more than the other way. For example, the table indicates that impact investing (fourth cluster) contributes 19.58% to socially responsible investing (first cluster), whereas the contribution of the opposite is 10.38%. Similarly, the table indicates that energy financing (sixth cluster) and governance of sustainable financing and investing (seventh cluster) contribute 23.50% and 21.23% to climate financing (second cluster), whereas the contributions of the opposite are 10.82% and 6.62%, respectively. Noteworthily, each keyword or topic can be primarily assigned to a major theme or cluster (Total %K = 100%), though their links (relationships) can span across themes or clusters (Total %L > 100%), thereby reflecting both the disciplinary and interdisciplinary nature of research on sustainable finance. The summaries of each major theme or cluster are presented next.

4.2.2.1 Cluster 1 (red): socially responsible investing

The largest cluster pertains to socially responsible investing, comprising 28.14% of total keywords and 42.75% of total links in the network of sustainable finance research. The most popular keyword or topic in this cluster is “socially responsible investing”, which appears in 175 articles and is connected to another 120 keywords. Other popular keywords or topics in this cluster that are researched in conjunction with socially responsible investing include “investment”, “corporate social responsibility”, “sustainability”, “socially responsible investment”, “mutual funds”, “decision making”, “ESG”, “corporate governance”, and “financial performance”. Under this cluster, researchers have explained the performance of socially responsible funds and their outperformance over regular mutual funds (Jafri, 2019 ), the ethical requirements to fulfill social responsible investing (von Wallis & Klein, 2015 ), and how ESG scores can enhance investment decision making (Chow et al., 2014 ), among others.

4.2.2.2 Cluster 2 (green): climate financing

The second largest cluster relates to climate financing, consisting of 18.61% of total keywords and 42.43% of total links in the network of sustainable finance research. The most popular keyword or topic on climate financing is “climate change”, which appears in 150 articles and is connected to another 166 keywords or topics. Other popular keywords or topics in this cluster that are researched in conjunction with climate financing include “environmental policy”, “developing world”, “adaptive management”, the “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change”, “greenhouse gases” and the “Paris Agreement”. Under this cluster, researchers have focused on the effects of climate change and the need for climate financing to mitigate greenhouse gases contributing to climate change in line with transnational agreements and frameworks (Dam & Scholtens, 2015 ; Gutiérrez & Gutiérrez, 2019 ; Ibrahim et al., 2016 ; Skovgaard, 2015 ), among others.

4.2.2.3 Cluster 3 (dark blue): green financing

The third largest cluster pertains to green financing, containing 15.15% of total keywords and 35.19% of total links in the network of sustainable finance research. The most popular keyword or topic on green financing is “environmental economics”, which appears in 82 articles and is connected to another 165 keywords. Other popular keywords or topics in this cluster that are researched in conjunction with green financing include “sustainable development”, “China”, “financial system”, “risk assessment”, “green economies”, “sustainable development goals”, “market conditions”, and “financial provisions”. Under this cluster, researchers have highlighted the promise of environmental protection through green finance and policies (Tan et al., 2017 ), as well as the contributions of green bonds and hybrid innovative instruments toward achieving the sustainable development goals (Alessandrini & Jondeau, 2020 ; Muhamat et al., 2017 ; Vazquez & Chin, 2019 ), among others.

4.2.2.4 Cluster 4 (yellow): impact investing

The fourth largest cluster relates to impact investing, encapsulating 12.12% of total keywords and 22.67% of total links in the network of sustainable finance research. The most popular keyword or topic in this cluster is “finance”, which appears in 110 articles and is connected to another 188 keywords, followed by “impact investing”, which appears in 56 articles and is connected to another 69 keywords. Other popular keywords or topics in this cluster that are researched in conjunction with impact investing include “social impact”, “innovation”, “stakeholder”, “social enterprise”, “strategic approach”, “United Kingdom”, “India”, and “political economy”. Under this cluster researchers have demonstrated how social enterprises and social entrepreneurship engage in social impact investments and innovations through social impact bonds and hybrid instruments (Abadie et al., 2013 ; Richardson, 2014 ; Roehrer & Kouadio, 2015 ), as well as business models for sustainability for impact investing and social impact bonds (Malhotra & Thakur, 2020 ), among others.

4.2.2.5 Cluster 5 (purple): carbon financing

The fifth largest cluster pertains to carbon financing, including 9.96% of total keywords and 24.17% of total links in the network of sustainable finance research. The most popular keyword or topic on carbon financing is “emission control”, which appears in 36 articles and is connected to another 102 keywords or topics. Other popular keywords or topics in the cluster that are researched in conjunction with carbon financing include “financial market”, “carbon emission”, “commerce”, “clean development mechanism”, “carbon”, “emissions trading”, “empirical analysis”, and “energy efficiency”. Under this cluster, researchers discuss the feasibility and implementation of carbon finance (Pinsky et al., 2019 ), the carbon market crisis and clean development mechanism required for adapting funds and emissions trading (Harmeling & Kaloga, 2011 ) in international markets (Lesser et al., 2014 ), and the societal perceptions of socially responsible financing, including that emerging from carbon financing, for sustainable development (Escrig-Olmedo et al., 2013 ), among others.

4.2.2.6 Cluster 6 (light blue): energy financing

The sixth largest cluster relates to energy financing, which is made up of 8.66% of total keywords and 19.54% of total links in the network of sustainable finance research. The most popular keyword or topic on energy financing is “renewable energy”, which appears in 27 articles and is connected to another 79 keywords. Other important keywords or topics in the cluster that are researched in conjunction with energy financing include “private sector”, “energy policy”, “alternative energy”, “financial services”, “fossil fuel”, “economic growth”, “Africa”, “environmental impact”, and “investment incentive”. Under this cluster, researchers have shed light on impact investment options that include energy finance focusing on alternative and renewable energy (Geobey & Callahan, 2017 ; Marti, 2013 ), including in developing economies such as the Middle East (Sisodia et al., 2020 ), among others.

4.2.2.7 Cluster 7 (orange): governance of sustainable financing and investing

The seventh largest cluster pertains to governance of sustainable financing and investing, which represents 7.36% of total keywords and 13.22% of total links in the network of sustainable finance research. The most popular keyword or topic in this cluster is “governance approach”, which appears in 30 articles and is connected to another 108 keywords. Other important keywords or topics in the cluster that are researched in conjunction with governance of sustainable financing and investing include “economics”, “economic development”, “environmental management”, “Redd+”, “Japan”, “environmental planning”, “environmental performance”, and “Latin America”. Under this cluster, researchers have focused on the alignment of global financial markets with the Paris agreement (Thomä et al., 2019 ), economic development through sustainable finance (Pinsky et al., 2020 ), and sustainable financing instruments for sustainable development (Zhang et al., 2020 ). For example, Thomä et al. ( 2019 ) explored a common set of accounting principles to be utilized for the alignment of equity and bond asset classes and multiple stakeholders towards the Paris agreement, whereas Pinsky et al. ( 2020 ) shed light on the governance process of REDD+ and performance-based mechanisms to incentive developing countries to engage in sustainable finance.

5 Forging the way forward

Sustainable finance has been and will continue to remain relevant for business schools, financial institutions, financial markets, and regulators. Noteworthily, both developed and developing countries are increasingly seen to be mandating SDG attainments through sustainable finance such as carbon, climate, and green financing (Dikau & Volz, 2021 ; Elavarasan et al., 2021 ; Taghizadeh-Hesary & Yoshino, 2019 ), whose importance are likely to magnify post the COVID-19 pandemic because of the setbacks that the pandemic has inflicted on the world’s progress toward the agenda of greater sustainability (United Nations, 2021 ). Besides that, financial markets are always on the lookout for innovative sustainable finance instruments that they can opportunistically leverage to meet economic demands whilst making impactful contributions toward sustainability and sustainable development, especially with regards to the attainment of the SDGs and the reduction of carbon footprint in accordance with the Paris agreement (Muganyi et al., 2021 ; Yu et al., 2021 ). Similarly, investors today are showing greater interest in ESG and socially responsible investment funds, giving directives to fund managers to screen and pursue funds for impact investing (Alda, 2020 , 2021 ; Chen et al., 2021 ; Joliet & Titova, 2018 ; Yesuf & Aassouli, 2020 ). Taken collectively, a continuous stream of new insights is thus required to ignite and satisfy evolving demands for sustainable finance.

With the growth in the body of knowledge and the availability of data on transactions specific to sustainable finance, future researchers can expect to be in a much more privilege position as compared to past researchers when they examine the direct and indirect causes and effects of myriad aspects of sustainable finance, especially in terms of its performance and return (Chen & Ma, 2021 ; Kling et al., 2021 ; Tian & Lin, 2019 ; Yao et al., 2021 ; Zhang, 2021 ). Indeed, the growing interest in sustainable finance has been evidenced in this review through the notable increase in the number of related research articles over the years, as well as the increased participation of investors and regulators in the field (Li et al., 2020 ; Schulz et al., 2020 ). More importantly, our reading of the articles and reflection of extant gaps under each major theme have led to several suggestions that should pave the way forward for future research to pollinate the field of sustainable finance in meaningful ways. Specifically, we observe that the major themes in the existing corpus have largely focused on the different types of sustainable finance (e.g., socially responsible investing, climate financing, green financing, impact investing, carbon financing, and energy financing), with the theme of governance being the noteworthy exception. While concepts such as green financing, carbon financing, and energy financing appear to be relatively similar at first glance, they can be differentiated through their research focus: green financing concentrates on increasing the financial flow (e.g., banking, micro-credit, insurance, and investment) across sectors (e.g., public, private, and not-for-profit) to sustainable development priorities more broadly, whereas carbon and energy financing focus on doing the same but for sustainable development priorities specific to carbon emission (e.g., greenhouse effects) and energy (e.g., renewable energy), respectively. We also realize that the major themes are interrelated and can therefore affect one another. In light of our learning of the field’s composition and trajectory, we have deliberately decided to curate a future research agenda based on our reflection of the commonalities in the extant gaps and future research directions that we found from literature published within the last five years (2016–2020) that remain relatively underexplored, a summary of which we present in Table 9 and discuss in the next sections.

5.1 Developing and diffusing innovative sustainable financing instruments

The necessity for innovative financing instruments that can mobilize funds toward sustainable development has increased for both developed and developing economies as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented global catastrophe that has reversed much of the world’s progress in sustainability (United Nations, 2021 ). Though many researchers are addressing this need through studies on socially responsible investing, climate financing, green financing, impact investing, carbon financing, and energy financing, most results remain inconclusive as the field continues to provide limited insights on broad range of financial markets, especially emerging financial markets other than China (Ari & Koc, 2021 ; Sinha et al., 2021 ). Some researchers have reasoned that funding for sustainable finance and sustainable development continues to be developing, and thus, more empirical evidence in both established and emerging markets is needed (Clark et al., 2018 ). Noteworthily, venture capital investments play a pivotal role to propel innovation in sustainable financing and impact investing given the magnitude of funds that they make available, as seen through financial markets such as China, where government interventions and market forces have encouraged such investments in ways that lead to cleaner and sustainable environments (Chen et al., 2021 ). Moreover, the issuance of innovative sustainable financing instruments can assist firms in attaining stock liquidity (e.g., the issuance of green bonds affects stock prices positively), yet limited issuance of such instruments exist in emerging financial markets such as India (Tang & Zhang, 2020 ). More importantly, innovative sustainable financing instruments can only become popular in financial markets if they are supported by formal and information institutions as they play an important role to increase its supply as well as consumer and corporate investors’ awareness, understanding, and demand of the benefits and costs of such financing and investing options in financial markets (Cui et al., 2020 ). Therefore, we propose five research questions to enrich understanding and prescription of innovative sustainable financing instruments, which can be applied to the existing ones discovered through our review or to propel the development of newer ones moving forward:

What value do innovative sustainable financing instruments offer, and how can such value be improved or sustained?

To what extent are innovative sustainable financing instruments feasible for adoption and implementation in emerging markets, and what actions can be taken to improve feasibility?

To what extent are innovative sustainable financing instruments linked with investors preference, and what actions can be taken to improve that link?

To what extent are innovative sustainable financing instruments successful in meeting their objectives, and what actions can be taken to improve or sustain success?

How can formal and informal institutions curate, influence, and shape innovative sustainable financing instruments?

5.2 Magnifying and managing the profitability and returns of sustainable financing

The performance cost of sustainable financing can be managed through optimal adjustments of portfolios (Fu et al., 2020 ). However, the same may not be possible across all markets due to the limitations of available investment avenue sets and tied rewards with impact (Geczy et al., 2021 ). The intermediation cost is also higher for sustainable financing than traditional financing as on the one hand firms in low-income countries with social impact do not have access to funds (World Bank Enterprise Survey, 2017) while on the other hand many investors in high-income countries are unable to find the right cause to invest (Kollenda, 2021 ). Moreover, it was found that the finance cost of green bonds is no less than non-green bonds in China (Cao et al., 2021 ). Therefore, future research needs to offer new ways to manage the profitability and returns of sustainable financing in lucrative and sensible ways, as summarized through the following research questions:

What are the benefits, costs, opportunities, and threats of sustainable financing across markets?

How can the benefits, costs, opportunities, threats, and ways forward for sustainable financing be conceptualized in and managed through an operational framework that accounts for and speaks to myriad stakeholders (investors, institutions, regulators)?

5.3 Making sustainable finance more sustainable

Assessing the sustainability of sustainable finance and rewards of impact investing is difficult. Investors also often demand non-financial performance metrics for such investments, with carbon footprints, exposure metrics, and ESG ratings gaining popularity despite their inherent limitations and shortcomings (Popescu et al., 2021 ). Dorfleitner et al. ( 2021 ) found most of socially responsible funds in the United States to be marred by persistent ESG controversies, which have led to calls by scholars such as Quatrini ( 2021 ) for mechanisms and strategies to address the existing flaws in the assessment of sustainable investments, which is both important and urgent to accelerate the world’s recovery from the aftermath of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the progress of sustainability (United Nations, 2021 ). Therefore, we encourage future research to pursue three research questions that should make sustainable finance more sustainable:

To what extent does investing in sustainable funds lead to sustainable returns, and how can it be improved or sustained?

To what extent does sustainable finance enable firms to avoid controversy related to ESG, and how can it be improved or sustained?

To what extent are sustainable funds sustainable before, during, and after crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic?

5.4 Devising and unifying policies and frameworks for sustainable finance

Regulators and financial institutions are pushing forth the sustainable finance agenda to attain the SDGs across markets (Dikau & Volz, 2021 ; Elavarasan et al., 2021 ; Taghizadeh-Hesary & Yoshino, 2019 ). Past research has indicated that the integration of green financial systems in traditional financial system can lead to sustainability controls and cleaner production (Ng, 2018 ), and that the incorporation of green governance structures can assist in lower financing constraints (Li et al., 2020 ), which suggest that regulators and financial institutions need to set up sustainability performance policies and frameworks (Jan et al., 2021 ). Yet, myriad policies and frameworks exist within and across markets, wherein such inconsistencies or non-complementariness can hinder the potential of sustainable finance. Hence, it is important to understand the role of regulators and financial institutions in sustainable finance, and crucial to that understanding is the development and unifying of policies and frameworks that communicates a common and mutual language, which are noteworthy directions for future research that we summarized through the following research questions:

What is the role and impact of regulators and financial institutions on sustainable finance (e.g., availability and performance of sustainable funds and instruments)?

How can policies and frameworks for sustainable finance be developed and unified within and across markets?

5.5 Tackling greenwashing of corporate sustainability reporting in sustainable finance

While earlier studies focused on the positive signals of ESG and impact investing on firm performance and concluded strong evidences of higher financial performance (Garcia et al., 2017 ; Rezaee & Tuo, 2017 ), recent studies have started questioning the quality of corporate sustainability reporting metrices and provided strong evidences of greenwashing of sustainability reports across markets (Arouri et al., 2021 ; Chen & Yang, 2020 ; Huang, 2020 ; Yu et al., 2020 ), with few studies rejecting greenwashing tendency of firms across sectors and markets (Uyar et al., 2020 ). Government regulations in the form of penalties and tax subsidies have nonetheless been evidenced to be effective to mitigate greenwashing in China (Sun & Zhang, 2019 ). Nonetheless, the evidence that avail remains inconclusive and limited, thereby suggesting potential for future research, especially across markets. Therefore, we propose the following research questions for future undertaking:

To what extent do firms engage in greenwashing of sustainability reports, and how can this be discouraged or mitigated?

To what extent do firms engage in sustainable finance to manipulate traditional financial performance measures, and how can this be discouraged or mitigated?

To what extent do firms engage in earnings manipulation with funds from sustainable financing, and how can this be discouraged or mitigated?

In which markets do greenwashing of sustainability reports more or less prominent, and what can we learn from the latter and to what extent will it work for the former?

5.6 Shining behavioral finance on sustainable finance

In the American and European stock markets, socially responsible investing is associated with large firms and abnormal returns (Mollet & Ziegler, 2014 ), with many socially responsible investors willing to forgo financial performance to pursue ethical or social objectives (Renneboog et al., 2008 ). Most scholars focus on the comparative performance between socially responsible funds and traditional funds along with associated screening and evaluation criteria (Chatzitheodorou et al., 2019 ), with studies showing better performance of socially responsible funds over traditional funds (Pedersen et al., 2020 ), higher market-to-book ratios and higher return on assets for socially responsible investors (Dam & Scholtens, 2015 ), and an opportunity to reduce systematic risk for investors (Cerqueti, 2021 ; Behl et al., 2021). However, little is known about the actual perceptions and behaviors toward sustainable finance, including that of and beyond socially responsible investing, which may be due to the lack of quantitative and survey social science-oriented research in sustainable finance. This is particular important given that the outperformance of sustainable finance may not necessarily continue in the long run due to the external shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the increasing awareness of greenwashing of sustainability reports, and the overpricing such stocks (Bofinger, 2021 ). In this regard, we call for additional research that seeks to shine a behavioral finance light in this direction through the following research questions:

How do investors benefit from sustainable finance?

How do investors perceive sustainable finance?

What is the role of personality and behavioral biases of investors while selecting impact investing-based funds over conventional funds?

5.7 Leveraging the power of new-age technologies for sustainable finance

Last by not least, in our final reflection of this review, we stumbled upon the greatly astonishing state of sustainable finance, wherein the application and discussion of new-age technologies in sustainable finance research is almost virtually non-existent despite its omnipresence in other fields such as business sustainability (Sivarajah et el., 2020 ), sustainable automotive (Kamble et al., 2021 ) and humanitarian supply chain (Bag et al., 2020 ), sustainable logistics service quality (Gupta et al., 2021 ), and sustainability marketing (Bolton, 2021 ). In essence, new-age technologies refer to new technologies that emerge as new industrial revolutions surface, with technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, internet of things, and machine learning being born out of the recent fourth industrial revolution (IR4.0) (Gupta et al., 2020 ). Noteworthily, IR4.0 is characterized as an era of digital transformation, which holds great potential for sustainability (Roblek et al., 2020 ). In fact, new solutions to get the world’s progress on sustainability back on track has never been greater given that the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed years of existing progress (United Nations, 2021 ), and we opine that future research that explains how new-age technologies can be applied to sustainable finance can make significant contributions to the world’s recovery and prosperity in the post-pandemic era, a contention that is supported by the central role that finance plays in funding digital transformation (Akter et al., 2020) and sustainability endeavors Cunha et al. ( 2021 ). In this regard, we call for new research that deliberately ignites and proliferates insights on the application of new-age technologies for sustainable finance through the following research questions:

How can artificial intelligence and machine learning be applied to screen credit applicants and monitor credit users of sustainable financing (e.g., financial distress prediction, credit scoring, corporate insolvency prediction, credit card anomalies detection, fraudulent financial statement detection)?

How can blockchain and machine learning be applied to track and flag impact concerns or successes in the activities of sustainable financing (e.g., carbon, climate, and energy financing) on sustainability goals (e.g., SDGs)?

How can big data analytics and machine learning be applied to acquire knowledge about public sentiments about sustainability issues, and how can sustainable finance providers automate the incorporation of that knowledge in the evaluation and provision of sustainable financing using sustainable alternatives powered by new-age technologies such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing?

How can cybersecurity and machine learning be applied to create a safe, secure, and trusted marketplace for sustainable finance?

How can machine learning be developed and deployed in ways that detect and prevent algorithmic bias for sustainable finance?

How can new-age technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, big data analytics, cloud computing, and machine learning be integrated in tandem with cybersecurity to achieve operational and impact excellence for sustainable finance, and how can the enablers and barriers to this integration be leveraged and resolved, respectively?

How can firms leverage on new-age technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, big data analytics, cloud computing, and machine learning develop or adapt sustainable financing operations and instruments in innovative, smart, and agile ways?

6 Conclusion

This study follows a systematic literature review approach using bibliometric analysis to shed light on the performance and science of sustainable finance research. This approach, which exemplifies the use of big data analytics through machine learning of scholarly research, is especially noteworthy given the astonishing absence of the application and discussion of new-age technologies in sustainable finance research. In doing so, this study contributes in a novel way by leveraging on the power of big data analytics through machine learning—and providing greater visibility to it in the process—to uncover the most influential articles and top contributing journals, authors, institutions, and countries, as well as the methodological choices and research contexts, and by revealing the temporal evolution of topics and the major themes underpinning the intellectual structure for sustainable finance research. To this end, we summarize five key takeaways and their equivalent implications from this state-of-the-art review of 936 articles on sustainable finance over the last 35 years (1986–2020).

First, the performance analysis indicates a consistent growth in publications in the field following the Paris agreement and the launch of the SDGs. Most publications came from authors and institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom as these countries have adopted sustainable finance frameworks and engaging in socially responsible investing much earlier than other developed and developing countries. In this regard, sustainable finance research should expand to underrepresented countries where sustainable finance is gaining momentum (e.g., Africa, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore).

Second, the performance analysis also reveals that qualitative research is most prominent in sustainable finance due to the nascent stage of its adoption in most countries and thus the lack of cases and data points required for quantitative research, and that most researchers preferred archival data, with few opting to pursue experiments and surveys. In this regard, it may be worthwhile for sustainable finance research to pursue the latter two data collection techniques that remain underutilized due to their potential to measure chronic and primed responses (Lim, 2015 , 2021 ; Lim et al., 2019 ) among potential stakeholders of sustainable finance, thereby curating equally interesting cause-and-effect insights on its feasibility and market reaction prior to its start up or scale up.

Third, the performance analysis also shows that most studies are application oriented where the aim is to develop policies and frameworks for specific contexts rather than to build and test theories, that most studies focus on single country data where earlier studies concentrate on developed economies such as Europe, the United States, and the United Kingdom and more recent studies coming from emerging economies such as Asia, Africa, and Oceania, and that most studies are inclined toward the service sector, specifically financial services. Therefore, we encourage prospective researchers to proactively view these gaps as opportunities for making new and novel contributions to the enrich and extend understanding of sustainable finance.

Fourth, the science mapping through a temporal analysis reveals that sustainable finance research has contributed myriad insights overtime starting with a single focus on socially responsible investing (1986 onwards) and branching out progressively to other areas such as ethical and green financing and ethical investing (1995 onwards), carbon financing, climate financing, conscious capitalism, CSR, and ESG (2005 onwards), and more recently, impact investing, innovative financial instrument, and SDG (2015 onwards). Noteworthily, the field of sustainable finance will only grow larger in the future, with new innovative sustainable financing instruments being developed over time—as seen through the rise of carbon and climate financing—to shape and satisfy the demands of funding for sustainability and sustainability development.

Fifth, the science mapping through a network analysis of keyword co-occurrence unveils seven major themes that characterize the body of knowledge or the intellectual structure of sustainable finance research, namely socially responsible investing, climate financing, green financing, impact investing, carbon financing, energy financing, and governance of sustainable financing and investing. We observe that six out of seven major themes relate to the types of sustainable finance, with governance being a unique theme on its own. Noteworthily, our reading of the articles and reflection of the extant gaps under each major theme brought us to several underexplored or underrepresented issues that future research can take up to enrich the major themes in sustainable finance research, which include developing and diffusing innovative sustainable financing instruments, magnifying and managing the profitability and returns of sustainable financing, making sustainable finance more sustainable, devising and unifying policies and frameworks for sustainable finance, tackling greenwashing of corporate sustainability reporting in sustainable finance, shining behavioral finance on sustainable finance, and leveraging the power of new-age technologies for sustainable finance.

Notwithstanding the extant contributions from this seminal state-of-the-art review of sustainable finance research, we concede that our review remains limited in several ways. First, our review is limited to the accuracy and completeness of articles made available through the Scopus database. Nonetheless, we have taken due diligence to correct for errorneous entries and to cross-check against publisher websites and other databases to mitigate this limitation. Second, our review provides only a broad overview of the performance and intellectual structure of sustainable finance research. Though this is in line with the goal and value of systematic literature reviews using a bibliometric analysis, wherein large-scale reviews become pragmatically possible, we concede that this approach falls short of providing finer-grained insights into other deserving and interesting pecularties such as the factors (independent, mediating, moderating, dependent) and relationships (positive, negative, linear, curvilinear) that may entail in sustainable finance. In this regard, we encourage future reviews using alternative approaches such as a framework- or theory-based review on sustainable finance, though such reviews do not necessarily need to be large scale—they can be pursued on a smaller scale (e.g., tens to low hundreds of articles) so that the review remains pragmatic and managable, as in the case of Cunha et al. ( 2021 ).

Change history

10 february 2022.

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-022-04535-4

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Published: 19 May 2022

Integrating sustainability into scientific research

Namrata Jain ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-7673-1625 1

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Laboratories have a large environmental impact, with high levels of resource consumption and waste generation. In this article, I discuss some of the actionable strategies that can bring real and impactful improvements, encompassing education, community engagement and the adoption of best practices by researchers. Building a global culture of sustainability in science will be crucial to reducing the carbon footprint of laboratories.

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How systems transitions can improve sustainable development

Clark, William, et al. Systems transitions research and sustainable development: Challenges, progress, and prospects ,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (Vol. 120, No. 47, Nov. 2023).

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William Clark

What’s the issue.

Making development sustainable is a central challenge of our age. The field of sustainability science tries to figure out how interactions of nature and society can support sustainable development. One key goal is figuring out how to restructure complex consumption-production systems. Examples of these systems are production and consumption of food, energy, and mobility. Scientists are studying how transitions in these production-consumption systems can bend development pathways toward sustainability.

What does the research say?

Writing in a special edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scholars Frank Geels of the University of Manchester, Florian Kern of the Institute for Ecological Economy Research in Berlin, and William C. Clark of Harvard Kennedy School bring together insights from experts on system transitions that shape sustainable development. This work weighs how potential solutions might fundamentally shift consumption-production systems. The authors note that radical innovations in small niches can lead to major transitions in large consumption-production systems. The three lead authors call on more than a dozen sustainable development scholars to examine specific innovations and obstacles to progress. These experts look at the drivers and barriers to sustainability in electricity, food, and mobility systems; they also consider larger cross-cutting systems issues. For example, one essay analyzes the British electricity system since World War Two, and the role that increasing concerns about climate change played in generating a more interventionist policy approach to shift electricity production and consumption. These systems changes led to an 86% reduction in emissions from 2006 to 2019. The authors note that political and economic struggles as well as technological advances drove this transition. Another paper analyzes how recent technology advances in energy storage, microgrids, and digitized systems in the United States have helped undermine long-time obstacles to small-scale solar energy development. Other essays look at the adoption of electric vehicles in Norway, the systems issues involved in car-sharing, agroecology in Nicaragua, and the shift to plant-based alternatives to meat production.

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For more than four decades, professor bill clark has championed sustainability, walking the talk: how students can contribute to the hks sustainability agenda, pursuing sustainability: a guide to the science and practice.

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MIT conductive concrete consortium cements five-year research agreement with Japanese industry

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The MIT Electron-conductive Cement-based Materials Hub (EC^3 Hub), an outgrowth of the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSHub), has been established by a five-year sponsored research agreement with the Aizawa Concrete Corp. In particular, the EC^3 Hub will investigate the infrastructure applications of multifunctional concrete — concrete having capacities beyond serving as a structural element, such as functioning as a “battery” for renewable energy .

Enabled by the MIT Industrial Liaison Program, the newly formed EC^3 Hub represents a large industry-academia collaboration between the MIT CSHub, researchers across MIT, and a Japanese industry consortium led by Aizawa Concrete, a leader in the more sustainable development of concrete structures, which is funding the effort.

Under this agreement, the EC^3 Hub will focus on two key areas of research: developing self-heating pavement systems and energy storage solutions for sustainable infrastructure systems. “It is an honor for Aizawa Concrete to be associated with the scaling up of this transformational technology from MIT labs to the industrial scale,” says Aizawa Concrete CEO Yoshihiro Aizawa . “This is a project we believe will have a fundamental impact not only on the decarbonization of the industry, but on our societies at large.”

By running current through carbon black-doped concrete pavements, the EC^3 Hub’s technology could allow cities and municipalities to de-ice road and sidewalk surfaces at scale, improving safety for drivers and pedestrians in icy conditions. The potential for concrete to store energy from renewable sources — a topic widely covered by news outlets — could allow concrete to serve as a “battery” for technologies such as solar, wind, and tidal power generation, which cannot produce a consistent amount of energy (for example, when a cloudy day inhibits a solar panel’s output). Due to the scarcity of the ingredients used in many batteries, such as lithium-ion cells, this technology offers an alternative for renewable energy storage at scale.

Ice placed on top of a charged conductive cement panel melts due to the higher temperature of the surface.

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A researcher stands with a microphone in the other hand. In the other hand, he holds a laser thermometer, which is aimed at a self-heating conductive cement surface

Regarding the collaborative research agreement, the EC^3 Hub’s founding faculty director, Professor Admir Masic , notes that “this is the type of investment in our new conductive cement-based materials technology which will propel it from our lab bench onto the infrastructure market.” Masic is also an associate professor in the MIT Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , as well as a principal investigator within the MIT CSHub, among other appointments.

For the April 11 signing of the agreement, Masic was joined in Fukushima, Japan, by MIT colleagues Franz-Josef Ulm , a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and faculty director of the MIT CSHub; Yang Shao-Horn , the JR East Professor of Engineering, professor of mechanical engineering, and professor of materials science and engineering; and Jewan Bae , director of MIT Corporate Relations. Ulm and Masic will co-direct the EC^3 Hub.

The EC^3 Hub envisions a close collaboration between MIT engineers and scientists as well as the Aizawa-led Japanese industry consortium for the development of breakthrough innovations for multifunctional infrastructure systems. In addition to higher-strength materials, these systems may be implemented for a variety of novel functions such as roads capable of charging electric vehicles as they drive along them.

Members of the EC^3 Hub will engage with the active stakeholder community within the MIT CSHub to accelerate the industry’s transition to carbon neutrality. The EC^3 Hub will also open opportunities for the MIT community to engage with the large infrastructure industry sector for decarbonization through innovation.

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MIT engineers create an energy-storing supercapacitor from ancient materials

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3 Questions: Boosting concrete’s ability to serve as a natural “carbon sink”

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Horizon Europe: €163.5 million available to fund green, smart and resilient transport and mobility research projects

The European Commission has launched two new calls for projects under Horizon Europe's Work Programme for 2023-2024 Cluster 5 – which groups together topics on Climate Action, Energy and Mobility.

A total of EUR 163.5 million in EU funding is available under these calls with a deadline for application of 5 September 2024. The calls cover the following subject areas or 'destinations':

Cross-sectoral solutions for the climate transition (HORIZON-CL5-2024-D2-02)

Safe, Resilient Transport and Smart Mobility services for passengers and goods (HORIZON-CL5-2024-D6-01)

See the table below for more details about the calls and where to apply:

Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation with a total budget of €95.5 billion. Under Horizon Europe, Energy, Climate Action, and Mobility research actions are grouped into Cluster 5.

The overarching driver for this cluster is to accelerate the twin green and digital transitions and associated transformation of our economy, industry and society with a view to contributing to the EU reaching its climate goals, and increasing energy resilience.

How to apply?

Funding opportunities under Horizon Europe are set out in the multiannual Climate, Energy and Mobility work programme. The work programme of Horizon Europe for the period 2023-2024 was adopted by the European Commission in December 2022.

All funding information and details on how to apply are on the Funding and Tenders portal .
The Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant.
Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe.
The Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management.
For specific questions related to Horizon Europe, please contact the Research Enquiry Service .

What are the requirements for applying?

The requirements for submitting a project proposal are detailed in the relevant documents published on the individual call page.

The submitted proposals are evaluated by independent experts drawn from the European Commission's database of external evaluators . Applicants will receive the evaluation results at the latest five months after the submission deadline. Grant agreements will be signed with the successful applicants within eight months after the submission deadline.

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Research Topics for Environment Sustainability and Governance (ESG
The research topics are sorted according to ranking. The uppermost list is the most frequent research area in that field, while the bottom list is not common research topic. Therefore, it is a ...
100+ Environmental Science Research Topics
Topics & Ideas: Environmental Chemistry. The impact of cobalt mining on water quality and the fate of contaminants in the environment. The role of atmospheric chemistry in shaping air quality and climate change. The impact of soil chemistry on nutrient availability and plant growth in wheat monoculture.
100 Best Sustainability Topics for Academic Papers
Best Sustainability Topics For Your Research. We've put together 100 exceptional sustainability topics that can be used for a variety of situations. The list covers topics in sustainability for grade school, middle school, high school, college, and graduate school. Check out our list and see what inspires you.
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Undergraduate Research Opportunities. Hopkins Internships - Summer Undergraduate Research Funds (HI-SURF) Mentoring Undergraduates in Interdisciplinary Research (MUIR) Summer Undergraduate Program on Energy Research (SUPER) Sustainability Undergraduate Research in Geoscience and Engineering (SURGE) Admissions; Executive Education; Field Learning
Past, present, and future of sustainable finance: insights from big
Sustainable finance is a rich field of research. Yet, existing reviews remain limited due to the piecemeal insights offered through a sub-set rather than the entire corpus of sustainable finance. To address this gap, this study aims to conduct a large-scale review that would provide a state-of-the-art overview of the performance and intellectual structure of sustainable finance. To do so, this ...
Integrating sustainability into scientific research
Building a global culture of sustainability in science will be crucial to reducing the carbon footprint of laboratories. Laboratories are typically highly resource-intensive spaces with large ...
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Unlocking Marine Food Potentials: Empowering Bioactive Compounds, Precision Nutrition, and Sustainable Dietary Solutions. Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, this journal explores the intersection of food systems, science and practice of sustainability including its environmental, economic and social ju...
How systems transitions can improve sustainable development
These systems changes led to an 86% reduction in emissions from 2006 to 2019. The authors note that political and economic struggles as well as technological advances drove this transition. Another paper analyzes how recent technology advances in energy storage, microgrids, and digitized systems in the United States have helped undermine long ...
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UN Conferences and High-Level Events related to sustainable development Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs Second Committee of the UN General Assembly ⭧
Topics Sustainability
Set Ambitious but Realistic Environmental Goals. Business leaders need to set interim targets judiciously to get early wins and build momentum for sustainability goals. Kate Isaacs, Jason Jay, Jeremy Gregory, and Elsa Olivetti. December 12, 2023. Supply Chains & Logistics.
A systematic review of sustainable business models: Opportunities
1.Introduction. In recent times, the concept of sustainability has gained great traction across industrial sectors. Increased societal pressure demanded commitment from the industrial sectors to sustainable development [1].From the industrial perspective, the concept of sustainability emphasizes on industrial activities and communications with the stakeholders, which focuses on the objectives ...
Sustainability
This study provides a comprehensive assessment of how the concept of energy is addressed in secondary and baccalaureate curricula in Spain, with a focus on alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the promotion of sustainable development. Through a qualitative analysis of recent educational legislation, the research highlights the integration and contextualization of energy ...
The Future Of Construction: Why Sustainability Is A Hot Topic
According to a study conducted by Willmot Dixon, construction companies cause nearly a quarter of air pollution, 40% of drinking water pollution, and half of all landfill waste. Concurrently, a ...
MIT conductive concrete consortium cements five-year research agreement
The MIT Electron-conductive Cement-based Materials Hub (EC^3 Hub), an outgrowth of the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSHub), has been established by a five-year sponsored research agreement with the Aizawa Concrete Corp. In particular, the EC^3 Hub will investigate the infrastructure applications of multifunctional concrete — concrete having capacities beyond serving as a structural ...
Federal funding going to research on diverse crop rotations on farms
Updated May 13, 2024 10:03 pm. 2 min read. MP Lloyd Longfield announces $5.7 million towards research into diverse crop rotations on farms. Ken Hashizume/CJOY. Growing food in Canada without ...
Horizon Europe: €163.5 million available to fund green, smart and
The European Commission has launched new calls for projects under Horizon Europe's Work Programme for 2023-2024 Cluster 5 - which groups together topics on Climate Action, Energy and Mobility. Horizon Europe: €163.5 million available to fund green, smart and resilient transport and mobility research projects - European Commission

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80 sustainability research topics for students to explore green campus issues

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Past, present, and future of sustainable finance: insights from big data analytics through machine learning of scholarly research

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1 Introduction