Economics & Finance

The Green Economy and Sustainable Finance
Investing for a Low-Carbon Future

Editors: Shakeb Akhtar , PhD
Habiba Al Mughairi, PhD
Parvez Alam Khan, PhD

The Green Economy and Sustainable Finance

In Production
Pub Date: Forthcoming July 2027
Hardback Price: $190 US | £150 UK
Hard ISBN: 9781779649195
E-Book ISBN: 978-1-77964-920-1
Pages: Est. 322 pp w index
Binding Type: Hardback / ebook
Notes: 1 color and 15 b/w illustrations

This new volume, The Green Economy and Sustainable Finance: Investing for a Low-Carbon Future, explores the profound transformation reshaping economies, businesses, and financial systems as nations strive to balance economic growth with environmental stewardship and social well-being. Bringing together contributions from an international group of scholars and practitioners, this volume examines how green finance, technological innovation, and sustainable business strategies are driving the transition to a resilient, low-carbon future.

Recognizing that sustainability conversations must be translated into practical action, the book bridges the gap between theory and practice through evidence-based research, policy analysis, and forward-looking frameworks. Organized into four thematic sections, it examines the foundations of the green economy, the drivers and risks influencing sustainable finance, the rapid emergence of Green FinTech and digital innovation, and the organizational transformations required to embed sustainability into long-term business strategy.

Chapters address ESG integration, climate-related financial risks, renewable energy development, environmental technologies, emerging markets, circular entrepreneurship, collaborative financing models, and financial education. They also highlight the growing role of artificial intelligence, blockchain, digital platforms, and other financial technologies in expanding access to sustainable investment, improving transparency, and accelerating responsible decision-making. Throughout, the contributors emphasize that inclusive growth, technological progress, and effective policy must work together to create meaningful and lasting change.

Key Features

  • Explores the theoretical foundations and practical implementation of green economy principles and sustainable finance.
  • Examines ESG, climate risk, Green FinTech, digital innovation, and emerging investment models.
  • Presents global and regional perspectives with case studies from developed and emerging economies.
  • Provides evidence-based insights to support policymaking, business strategy, and future research.
Designed for researchers, graduate students, policymakers, business leaders, financial institutions, and sustainability professionals, this comprehensive reference offers global perspectives while recognizing the distinct challenges and opportunities facing emerging and developed economies alike. It demonstrates that the transition to a green economy is not merely an environmental necessity, but also an opportunity to reshape markets, foster innovation, strengthen resilience, and create more equitable and sustainable pathways for future development.

CONTENTS:
Foreword

Preface

PART I: FOUNDATIONS OF THE GREEN ECONOMY AND SUSTAINABLE FINANCE

1. Introduction to Green Economy
Syed Mohd Shahzeb, Najul Laskar, Jasvinder Sidhu, and Mohammed Saleem Alatawi

2. The Role of Green Finance in Sustainable Development and Social Inclusion: Ensuring Benefits for Marginal Communities
Shreshtha Sharma, Shilpa Bahl, Shubhi Rathi, and Zubia Akhtar Shamim Akhtar Shaikh

3. Green Finance in Emerging Markets
Nithya Ramachandran and Abhijit Kelkar

4. Does Environmental Technologies Affect Green Economic Growth? Evidence from South Asian Economies
Mohammad Younus Bhat, Arfat Ahmad Sofi, Showkat Ahmad Shah, and Hafiz Iqbal

5. The Struggle to Shine: Socio-Economic and Policy Challenges in Establishing Solar Parks
Sumangala Talur, Mary Metilda Jayaraj, Kavitha Sathasivam, and Yousuf Al Mabsali

PART II: DRIVERS, CHALLENGES, AND RISKS IN THE GREEN TRANSITION

6. Sustainability at Risk: Unveiling the Role of Climate Vulnerability and ESG Factors
Irsa Azam, Mirza Muhammad Naseer, Mustaqim Roshid, and Saqib Mehmood

7. Extreme Weather Meets Global Finance: Comparing Climate Change Impacts in the USA, China, and India
Shiva Sai Kiran Pothula, Mohammed Afzal Biyabani, and Avinash Kothuru

8. Assessing the Integration of Sustainability in Corporate Strategic Decision-Making for Listed Companies
Shirly Abraham, Deepa Pillai, Alexis Mathai, and Habil. Camelia Oprean-Stan

9. Financial Evaluation of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Models
Jitesh Lalwani, Aryan Seth, Cristina Alcaide Muñoz, and Encarnación Álvarez-Verdejo

10. Financing the Green Transition: Investment Strategies for Sustainable Real Estate and Infrastructure
K. Balaji, Shakeb Akhtar, and Haseeb Ur Rahman

PART III: INNOVATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND THE RISE OF GREEN FINTECH
11. Financial Technology for a Sustainable World: The Rise of Green FinTech
Abdul Wajid, Kanishka Gupta, and Swati Gupta

12. Unraveling the Enablers of Green FinTech Adoption for Sustainable Finance
Kiran Yadav, Beata Zofia Filipiak, Assunta Di Vaio, and Bhavna Yadav

13. Unveiling Investor Preferences and Decision-Making Patterns Regarding Green FinTech Investments: Evidence from the UAE
Vijayalakshmi S., Zakiya Abdul Samad, Ghassan Jumblat, and Pallavi N.

14. Shaping the Future: FinTech Drivers, Emerging Trends, and Their Impact on the Global Financial Ecosystem
Mohammad Ammar Ahsan, Shamaela Tabassum, Shakeb Akhtar, and Afroze Nazneen

15. Untangling Green Finance: Exploring Collaborative Financing Models for Emerging Asian Economies
Bhuvaneshwar Rai, Neetha Kurian, Saleh Albarashdi, and Ambi S. T. Singam

PART IV: BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION AND STRATEGIC SUSTAINABILITY
16. Sustainable Finance Strategies for Business Resilience
Rahul Waghmare, Pallavi Kudal, Mahfooz Alam, and Mohd Afjal

17. Reimagining Firm Performance Through Circular Entrepreneurship: A Conceptual Framework for Sustainable Financial Strategy
Tuyet Anh Truong, Satirenjit Kaur Johl, and Parvez Alam Khan

18. Bridging the Environmental, Social, and Governance Awareness Gap: The Need for Financial Education and Social Influence
Sunita Sharma, Kavita, Suzan Dsouza, and Ajay Kumar Jain

Index


About the Authors / Editors:
Editors: Shakeb Akhtar , PhD
Lecturer, Department of Economics and Business Administration, University of Technology and Applied Science, Ibra, Oman; Research Fellow, Department of Business and Communications, INTI International University, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Shakeb Akhtar, PhD, is a Lecturer in the Department of Economics and Business Administration at the University of Technology and Applied Science, Ibra, Oman, and serves as a Research Fellow in the Department of Business and Communications at INTI International University, Malaysia. His teaching and research focus on accounting, finance, banking, and sustainability. Before joining his current institution, Dr. Akhtar held several academic leadership positions, including Program Director (MBA-FS), Chair Professor, Research Coordinator, and Head of the Examination Cell at the School of Business, Woxsen University, Hyderabad, India. He also served as Division Chair (Area Chair) and Assistant Professor at Galgotias University, Greater Noida, India. He has more than 10 years of teaching experience in accounting and finance at both tertiary and senior high school levels. His research interests include the banking industry, behavioral economics, sustainability, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and advanced quantitative methods, including static and dynamic panel estimation, panel autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) modeling, time-series analysis, and efficiency analysis. He has authored more than 45 publications in ABDC, ABS, Scopus, and Web of Science-indexed journals. Dr. Akhtar earned an MFC and a PhD in Banking and Finance from Aligarh Muslim University, India.

Habiba Al Mughairi, PhD
Senior Lecturer and Head, Department of Economics and Business Administration, University of Technology and Applied Science, Ibra, Oman

Habiba Al Mughairi, PhD, is Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Economics and Business Administration at the University of Technology and Applied Science, Ibra, Oman. She has extensive expertise in economics, finance, accounting, and applied quantitative research and has accumulated 18 years of teaching experience. Dr. Al Mughairi has completed specialized professional training in financial econometrics, macroeconomic forecasting techniques, and financial market volatility models through Oxford University, University College London, and CASS Business School, UK. Her research focuses on economics, banking, finance, and financial modeling. She has published several articles in Scopus-indexed journals and has received three competitive research grants from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, Oman. In 2019, she received a Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Research Award in the Culture, Social Science, and Basic Sector category in recognition of her research leadership and mentorship. Dr. Al Mughairi holds a PhD in Economics and Finance from Brunel University London, UK, and a master’s degree in International Economics, Banking and Finance from Cardiff University, UK.

Parvez Alam Khan, PhD
Lecturer, Department of Management and Humanities, University Technology PETRONAS, Malaysia

Parvez Alam Khan, PhD, is a Lecturer in the Department of Management and Humanities at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia. His academic work bridges sustainable development with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, the circular economy, sustainable finance, and corporate governance, emphasizing ESG reporting, voluntary carbon markets, circular economy governance, sustainability reporting, and carbon credit adoption. He is actively engaged in developing research initiatives that support the transition toward net-zero emissions and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). His current research includes the development of a Carbon Credit Adoption Readiness Index for net-zero emissions and sustainable development. He also supervises and mentors postgraduate researchers and welcomes Master’s by Research and PhD candidates whose interests align with voluntary carbon markets, ESG, circular economy governance, sustainability reporting, and related areas. Dr. Khan is a Chartered Manager (CMgr) recognized by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), UK. He earned his PhD in Management and continues to contribute to research and teaching in sustainability, governance, and responsible business practices.




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