Search Results (28)

The study presents a comprehensive approach to reviewing achievements in sustainable finance, identifying research trends and directions, key problem areas, the geographical origins of publications, keyword clusters, and the research methods applied by scholars in this field. The analysis is based on a dataset of 9218 publications indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases covering the period 2012–2025. The methodological framework combines bibliometric analysis, text mining, and topic modelling techniques, including the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) method, supported by visualization tools. These methods enable the identification of publication dynamics, the geographic distribution of research activity, thematic clusters, and the dominant research methods used in the literature. The results indicate a significant increase in academic interest in sustainable finance, particularly after 2018. The main research trends identified include green finance, climate finance, renewable energy financing, ESG investing, sustainability reporting, and the development of green financial instruments. The analysis also highlights the growing role of innovation and financial institutions in supporting sustainability transitions. In addition, the study identifies emerging research areas such as blue finance and green banking, providing a broader perspective on the evolving structure of sustainable finance research. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only review paper that approaches sustainable finance in such a comprehensive manner, particularly by incorporating the emerging concept of blue finance. Full article

Mangrove ecosystems are recognized as highly efficient blue-carbon reservoirs, yet their monitoring requires scalable, transparent methods suitable for climate-finance and greenhouse-gas accounting applications. This study quantifies interannual carbon-stock dynamics and derives a carbon-market valuation indicator for Ecuador’s Churute Mangrove Ecological Reserve (2015–2021) using publicly available remote-sensing land-cover products. Annual activity data were derived from Copernicus Global Land Service LC100 (100 m, 2015–2019) and ESA WorldCover (10 m, 2020–2021), harmonized to a common reporting scheme, and combined with IPCC Tier 1 default coefficients for biomass and soil organic carbon in tropical wetlands. Total carbon stocks averaged 1.67 million t C across the period, remaining stable within the internally consistent LC100 phase (2015–2019), with trend statistics treated as descriptive given the short annual series, while a pronounced drop in 2020 primarily reflected methodological discontinuities between products rather than ecological change. Converted to CO₂e equivalents (mean 6.1 million t CO₂e), illustrative market values fluctuated between USD 18 and 123 million annually, driven predominantly by carbon-price variability. This remote-sensing-based, MRV-aligned approach provides a conservative baseline for protected-area blue-carbon accounting, highlighting the need for homogeneous high-resolution time series to distinguish real dynamics from classification artifacts in future assessments. Full article

Using a quantile–frequency connectedness framework, this study analyzes the regime-contingent and horizon-specific transmission of shocks among AI assets, FinTech markets, and Blue Economy financial instruments. The empirical results reveal a distinctly asymmetric connectedness structure, whereby high-frequency spillovers intensify in upper-quantile states associated with liquidity stress and sentiment-driven trading, while low-frequency connectedness remains comparatively muted, thereby preserving cross-segment diversification potential. AI assets emerge as dominant net transmitters in short-horizon dynamics, reflecting rapid innovation cycles and speculative adjustments. FinTech markets exhibit stabilizing properties under median regimes but transition into net propagation roles when risk conditions escalate. Blue finance instruments act as conditional net absorbers, attenuating volatility originating from digital innovation-driven markets, particularly during adverse market states. By decomposing spillover intensities across quantiles and spectral bands, the analysis highlights a structural differentiation between innovation-sensitive digital assets and the comparatively stable behavior of blue-themed financial assets. These findings advance the understanding of nonlinear dependence, asymmetric contagion, and state-dependent co-movements in emerging financial ecosystems. The results provide actionable insights for systemic-risk measurement, cross-market shock diagnostics, and multi-asset portfolio construction in an increasingly interconnected global financial system. Full article

Blue Finance has rapidly emerged as a strategic frontier for channeling capital toward sustainable and resilient ocean economies, connecting financial innovation with environmental governance and climate responsibility. However, its conceptual foundations remain fragmented, hindering theoretical integration and policy application. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric and science-mapping analysis of 217 Scopus-indexed publications (2007–2025), using Biblioshiny (Bibliometrix v4.2.2), VOSviewer v1.6.20, and Gephi v0.10.1 to trace the intellectual evolution, thematic configuration, and research agenda of Blue Finance. The analysis reveals a rapidly consolidating field that has evolved through three distinct phases, anchored in sustainability science but constrained by limited financial integration. The field’s cognitive structure is organized around three interlinked pillars: the climate–environmental interface, sustainability integration and governance, and innovative financial mechanisms enhancing economic resilience. Emerging research hotspots in blue bonds, sustainable finance, and blue justice signal a paradigm shift from normative ecological awareness to actionable, market-aligned resilience. The findings outline a forward-looking research agenda that strengthens theoretical consolidation, governance accountability, and sustainable investment frameworks. This study offers strategic guidance for researchers, investors, and policymakers, positioning Blue Finance as a transformative catalyst that unites innovation, resilience, and equity in shaping the future of sustainable finance. Full article

This study intends to examine the intellectual discussion on the financial behavior of young adults between the ages of 18 and 29. Research on the financial behavior of this demographic group is critical as they are transitioning from parental guidance to independently managing their finances. Vosviewer and Biblioshiny R-package were used to examine a total of 364 peer-reviewed articles from 1993 to March 2025. The results of the study underwrote three dominant themes: (1) Red Cluster—Financial literacy, Financial Capability, and Financial Behavior among Young Adults; (2) Green Cluster—Psychosocial, Demographic (gender), and Financial Behavior among Young Adults; and (3) Blue Cluster—Socialization and Financial Behavior among Young Adults. The outcome of this study provides valuable insights to all stakeholders, i.e., parents, educational institutions, employers, and regulatory bodies, in terms of the importance of the financial behavior of young adults and thus the design of appropriate intervention strategies and tools that stakeholders could use at every stage of an individual’s life to ensure proper financial management and well-being, ultimately contributing to a sustainable economy. Full article

The Blue Economy has emerged as a vital framework for achieving sustainable economic diversification, environmental stewardship, and social resilience, particularly in regions facing ecological pressures such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Despite its increasing recognition in national strategies, including Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE’s Blue Economy Strategy 2031, scholarly research in the GCC remains fragmented and uneven. This study provides the first comprehensive bibliometric and thematic review of Blue Economy research in the region, analyzing publications produced between 2000 and 2025. The analysis reveals four dominant thematic clusters: fisheries and food security, governance and coastal policy, climate resilience and ecosystem restoration, and blue finance and economic diversification. At the same time, it identifies persistent gaps in social equity, gender inclusivity, traditional ecological knowledge, and regional coordination. By situating GCC research within broader global debates, the study underscores both the strengths and limitations of the current knowledge base. The findings contribute to academic debate and policy development by offering a conceptual framework that highlights inclusive governance, innovative financing, and nature-based solutions as key pillars for future research and practice. In doing so, the study provides a roadmap for advancing the Blue Economy agenda in the GCC and beyond. Full article

Rapid urbanisation in Sub-Saharan Africa demands innovative land management strategies that promote sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban development. This study investigates the potential of land readjustment (LR) to foster neighbourhood-scale social–ecological urban resilience (SEUR) through a case study of the Nunga LR project in Kigali, Rwanda. Grounded in the social–ecological system (SES) theory and operationalised through the social–ecological land readjustment model for resilient neighbourhoods, the research evaluates LR practices against an integrated benchmark framework combining LR aspects, neighbourhood design standards, and resilience attributes. The study uses secondary data, project shapefiles, and key informant interviews to assess how Rwanda’s emerging LR model contributes to resilient neighbourhood development. Findings demonstrate strong community mobilisation and adaptive governance capacity. However, critical resilience dimensions—including modularity, green infrastructure integration, land-use diversity, and adaptive feedback mechanisms—were only partially operationalised. Consequently, while LR improved spatial formalisation and basic infrastructure provision, it fell short of creating a truly resilient, multifunctional neighbourhood ecosystem. These findings highlight the need to reframe LR from a purely technical land management tool into a systemic resilience-building mechanism. Policy recommendations include mandating green/blue infrastructure in LR plans, establishing innovative financing mechanisms, institutionalising adaptive monitoring, strengthening affordability safeguards, and promoting multifunctional spatial layouts. The study contributes to urban resilience and land governance scholarship by offering a context-sensitive, empirically tested model for integrating SEUR principles into LR practice in rapidly urbanising African cities. Future research should pursue longitudinal analyses and dynamics modelling of land readjustment impacts to deepen understanding of urban resilience pathways in the Global South. Full article

Debt-for-nature instruments are financial transactions that allow countries to restructure and reduce foreign debt in exchange for investments in environmental conservation measures. Can debt-for-nature instruments attract more capital for biodiversity finance? Debt-for-nature instruments first appeared in the market in the 1980s; however, they have seen a recent surge in popularity, with transactions predominantly focused on marine conservation. These transactions have gained attention for their size, innovative nature, and conservation focus. However, they have also faced criticism surrounding sovereignty, effectiveness, and transaction costs. The descriptive qualitative analysis of a comprehensive and global sample of the eight tripartite type debt-for-nature instruments brought to market since 2015, with a detailed case study of the Belize transaction, indicates that such deals may be costly to negotiate, the use of blue bond labeling can be misleading, conservation benefits are limited, and they have limited replicability. On the positive side, these deals have introduced innovative structures to unlock additional funds for conservation. The best examples are structured with a larger financial commitment to nature and strong enforcement mechanisms. In some cases, the transaction laid the groundwork for future marine conservation funding and commitments. Debt-for-nature instruments are not a silver bullet for either environmental impact or debt refinancing; however, the benefits of recent transactions indicate a role for such innovative instruments in conservation finance. Full article

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure plays a pivotal role in mitigating “blue” (labor standard) and “green” (environmental standard) trade barriers, optimizing the foreign trade ecosystem, fostering sustainable development of export-oriented enterprises, and advancing societal welfare objectives—all critical to maintaining high-quality social order in China. Grounded in institutional and strategic management theories, this study systematically investigates the effects of CSR disclosure on corporate export performance, focusing on mediating and moderating mechanisms, and conducts rigorous empirical testing using comprehensive firm-level CSR disclosure data from Chinese listed companies. The results reveal the following key findings: (1) CSR disclosure positively influences corporate exports; (2) enterprise financing capacity and innovation output serve as dual mediating mechanisms, through which CSR disclosure enhances export performance by improving access to external capital and stimulating product/service innovation; (3) environmental regulations amplify the export-promoting effect of CSR disclosure, indicating that institutional environmental constraints incentivize firms to leverage disclosure as a strategic response to global sustainability demands; (4) heterogeneity analysis reveals that large enterprises derive the strongest export benefits from CSR disclosure, followed by medium-sized and small enterprises; and (5) private enterprises exhibit significantly greater export gains from CSR disclosure compared to state-owned enterprises. These results underscore the context-specific and multi-dimensional nature of CSR disclosure’s impact on exports, highlighting how firm size and ownership structure shape the efficacy of disclosure strategies in global markets. This study contributes to both academic literature on corporate sustainability and practical policy by demonstrating how strategic CSR disclosure can serve as a tool for overcoming institutional barriers and enhancing international competitiveness. Full article

This study investigates the effects of blue finance and marine environmental quality of the marine fishery economy using panel data for marine fisheries in China’s coastal provinces spanning 2011–2023. We use entropy, moderating effects, and threshold effects to calculate the level of blue finance and marine environmental quality, the moderating role of marine environmental quality in blue finance’s effect on the marine fishery economy, and the threshold effect of blue finance and marine environmental quality on the marine fishery economy. We find that (1) blue finance can improve the marine fishery economy, with an influence coefficient of 0.245. (2) The quality of marine environment plays a transmission mechanism role in the impact of blue finance on the development of marine fishery economy quality. (3) Blue finance and marine environmental quality both have a first-order threshold effect on the marine fishery economy, showing a U-shaped curve relationship. Full article

The Peruvian coast covers more than 3000 km along the Pacific Ocean, being one of the richest seas in terms of biodiversity, productivity, fishing, and renewable energy potential. Marine renewable energy (MRE) in both offshore and coastal environments of Peru is, currently, a huge reserve of practically unused renewable energy, with inexhaustible potential. In this context, renewable energies from hydroelectric, biomass, wind, and solar sources have been applied in the country, but geothermal, waves, tidal currents, and tidal range sources are currently underdeveloped. This article presents the enormous source of sustainable blue energy for generating electrical energy that exists in Peru from waves and tidal resource potential. In addition, this article presents the main opportunities, gaps, and key issues for the implementation of marine renewable energy (MRE), with emphasis on: (i) showing the available potential in the northern, central, and southern Pacific Ocean territories of Peru, (ii) characterizing the marine energy best available technologies to implement, (iii) the environmental and socio-economic impacts of marine renewable energy, and (iv) discussion of challenges, opportunities, and future directions for developments in the marine energy sector. Finally, the article concludes that the greatest possibilities for exploiting the abundant marine renewable energy (MRE) resource in Peru are large spaces in both offshore and coastal environments on the Pacific Ocean that can be considered for harvesting energy. These issues will depend strongly on the implementation of regulations and policies for the strategic use for planning of marine resources, encouraging research and development (R&D) for creating sustainable innovations, incentives for project finance mechanisms, and developing specialized local human capital, considering the sustainability of livelihoods of coastal communities and ecosystems. Full article

This research creates the critical relationship between the blue economy, inclusive growth, and environmental sustainability in 17 transitional economies from 2000 to 2022. Using panel-corrected standard errors (PCSEs) and the Driscoll–Kraay standard error regression approach, we examine how inclusive growth significantly decreases the ecological footprint while the blue economy increases these effects through sustainable marine resource utilization and clean technologies. Focusing on countries such as Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Sri Lanka, this study advances the understanding of how the blue economy fosters sustainability amidst rising consumption pressures. The findings underscore the potential of technology transfer, capacity building, regional collaboration and green finance mechanisms to unlock the blue economy’s full potential for inclusive and sustainable development, offering actionable insights for policymakers and future research directions in developing and transitional economies. Full article

This study reviews various financing solutions available for fisheries and aquaculture development in Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS) and Barbados, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Previously identified financing needs within the fisheries and aquaculture sectors have been matched with the most suitable financing mechanisms. However, the use of blue levies is recommended and applicable in almost every scenario, as they allow these sectors to drive their own development in financing research and conservation projects to their own benefit. The use of “blue tokens” with sufficiently low repayment coupons allows development projects to gather public support for fisheries, thereby increasing the likelihood of the project being successful through community buy-in. The possibility of natural capital being traded as public equities as “Natural Asset Companies” provides the opportunity for development projects to fund themselves. The review concludes that natural capital can be leveraged as the base through which public-private partnerships (PPPs) can facilitate optimal delivery of ecosystem services, benefit multiple stakeholders, and provide numerous development opportunities. An enabling environment for debt and lending with low-interest loan repayments is also applicable to almost every scenario, as it facilitates access to capital finance for infrastructure development and the acquisition of increasingly sustainable fishing equipment. Steps towards generating an enabling environment for financing fisheries and aquaculture in the Caribbean region are also discussed. The establishment of dedicated financing institutions, PPPs, and sufficient data reporting infrastructure for the fisheries and aquaculture industry are essential for driving development in these sectors. Likely, the largest limiting factor in financing Caribbean fisheries and aquaculture industries is a lack of awareness of the range of finance and financing mechanisms available to stakeholders, as well as an enabling environment for financing blue Economy sectors. This review is thus intended to aid financing institutions, Blue Economy developers, and specifically Caribbean fisheries and aquaculture stakeholders and Caribbean governments by raising awareness of the financing mechanisms available, encourage the incorporation of their use in the fisheries and aquaculture industries in the Caribbean, and encourage policymakers to create an enabling environment for financing development in these crucial sectors. Full article

The Seychelles blue bond is an innovative finance mechanism that has played a pivotal role in shaping the global landscape of blue bonds. Seychelles leadership in the blue economy sets a significant precedent. However, this precedent has also raised concerns among various stakeholders. This study evaluates of Seychelles’ sovereign blue bond, which was co-developed by the government of Seychelles and the World Bank. Three themes are explored, how the blue bond relates to other actors and donors in the blue economy space of Seychelles; how the blue bond contributes to advancing the national agenda and blue economy of Seychelles; and the key strengths, enablers and weaknesses of the blue bond. A series of considerations for future blue financing and blue bond mechanisms are presented, based on the findings of this study, to ensure that financing extends beyond blue washing and contributes meaningfully to the holistic transition to a sustainable blue economy. Our findings imply significant considerations for stakeholders in sustainable finance, suggesting ways to enhance the efficacy of blue bonds and emphasising the need for further research on their long-term impact and integration with other financial instruments. Full article

Blue carbon has been proposed as a nature-based solution for climate change mitigation; however, a limited number of published works and data and knowledge gaps hinder the development of small island developing states’ (SIDS) national blue carbon resources globally. This paper reviews the blue carbon ecosystems of Seychelles as a case study in the context of SIDS, comparing estimations by the Blue Carbon Lab and recent blue carbon (mangrove and seagrass) evaluations submitted to the Seychelles national government. Mangroves (2195 ha, 80% in Aldabra Atoll) and seagrasses (142,065 ha) dominate in Seychelles, with coral reefs having the potential for carbon sequestration (169,000 ha). Seychelles is on track to protecting its blue carbon, but these systems are threatened by rising sea levels, coastal squeeze, erosion, severe storms, and human activities. The importance of carbon inventories, accounting institutions, and continuous monitoring of blue carbon systems is discussed. Blue accounting is necessary for accurate accounting of carbon sequestration and carbon storage, generating carbon credits, and representing impactful reductions in greenhouse gases for NDCs. Challenges and opportunities include policy legislation regarding ownership rights, accreditation and certification for carbon credits, sustainable financing mechanisms like natural asset companies and blue tokens, local engagement for long-term success, and carbon market dynamics following COP27. The restoration and regulation of blue carbon resources for optimal ecosystem services delivery, carbon inventories, and blue carbon policy are recommended development priorities. Blue carbon ecosystems have the potential to contribute to NDCs of SIDS while simultaneously offering sustainable development pathways for local communities through the multiple ecosystem services they provide. Full article