By combining social cognitive theory (SCT) and capability approach (CA), this study aims to explore Indonesian youths’ intentions regarding responsible consumption shaped by their awareness and capability. An online survey was conducted among youths aged 18–24 in Indonesia. By developing distinct theoretical models, our study then utilised structural equation modelling to explore cognitive, normative, and structural pathways that shape youths’ sustainable behavioural intentions. This research finds that the three models capture different behavioural mechanisms underlying responsible consumption intentions. It concludes that youth behavioural intention emerges through the interplay between internal awareness and strong external enabling conditions. This research implies that high awareness does not directly lead to committed action when structural barriers such as affordability or limited access persist. The gap between values and behaviour reflects how unequal capability across youth groups can limit the realisation of sustainable choices. This paper offers a novel theoretical contribution by bringing together SCT and CA within a complementary SCT-CA framework, addressing the empirical gap between awareness and action in pro-environmental consumer research. It also introduces a scenario-based measurement of behavioural intention, offering contextually grounded insights into youth responses to real-life sustainability dilemmas. Ultimately, it presents a further policy reformulation agenda for social re-engineering that addresses environmental-legal and infrastructural gaps, enabling motivated youth to translate their intentions into responsible consumption practices.
This paper discusses the effects of the sustainable digital marketing approach on the green purchase intentions in the renewable energy market in Jordan and in particular the behavioral processes that mediate the formation of the environmentally responsible consumption. The quantitative research design was utilized to obtain data based on 237 consumers and processed with the help of the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling, to determine the direct, mediating, and moderating relationships. The results indicate that sustainable digital marketing initiatives have a significant positive impact on the environmental awareness and green purchase intentions. The environmental awareness can be identified as one of the main explanatory factors, and it mediates the connections between sustainable digital marketing and green purchase intentions, which shows that it is the key influential factor of pro-environment consumer behavior. In contrast, the moderating effect of perceived consumer effectiveness on the relationship between sustainable digital marketing strategies and green purchase intentions is found to be statistically insignificant. However, the Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR) values of the saturated and estimated models slightly exceeded the recommended 0.08 threshold, suggesting that the structural estimates should be interpreted with caution and that future research should validate the model using larger samples and additional fit indicators. These findings imply that the digital sustainability messages are effective in increasing awareness and behavioral intentions, but the individual perceptions of personal impact might not have a significant effect on strengthening this relationship in the context of the study. On the whole, the research finds that sustainability of digital marketing through the use of eco-friendly practices is a very crucial channel via which sustainable marketing strategies can predict green consumption behavior. The results advance the existing knowledge of the effects of sustainability-focused digital communication on consumer behavior in the developing markets and offer valuable practical recommendations to policymakers and marketers who may want to encourage the use of renewable energy by leveraging the behavioral-based digital communication approaches.
This paper discusses the effects of the sustainable digital marketing approach on the green purchase intentions (GPIs) in the renewable energy market in Jordan and in particular the behavioral processes that mediate the formation of the environmentally responsible consumption. The quantitative research design was utilized to obtain data based on 237 consumers and processed with the help of the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), to determine the direct, mediating, and moderating relationships. The results indicate that sustainable digital marketing initiatives have a significant positive impact on the environmental awareness (EA) and GPIs. The EA can be identified as one of the main explanatory factors, and it mediates the connections between sustainable digital marketing and GPIs, which shows that it is the key influential factor of pro-environment consumer behavior. In contrast, the moderating effect of perceived consumer effectiveness (PCE) on the relationship between sustainable digital marketing strategies (SDMS) and GPIs is found to be statistically insignificant. However, the standardized root mean squared residual (SRMR) values of the saturated and estimated models slightly exceeded the recommended 0.08 threshold, suggesting that the structural estimates should be interpreted with caution and that future research should validate the model using larger samples and additional fit indicators. These findings imply that the digital sustainability messages are effective in increasing awareness and behavioral intentions, but the individual perceptions of personal impact might not have a significant effect on strengthening this relationship in the context of the study. On the whole, the research finds that sustainability of digital marketing through the use of eco-friendly practices is a very crucial channel via which sustainable marketing strategies can predict green consumption behavior. The results advance the existing knowledge of the effects of sustainability-focused digital communication on consumer behavior in the developing markets and offer valuable practical recommendations to policymakers and marketers who may want to encourage the use of renewable energy by leveraging the behavioral-based digital communication approaches.
This investigation aims to determine how the combination of Cybersecurity (CS), Digital Spending (DS), and Innovation (INN) affect Economic Growth (EG) in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), using data collected quarterly from 2015 through 2024. The original panel is balanced (4 countries × 40 quarters = 160 observations), and it remains balanced after first differencing removes the first quarter of each country (4 × 39 = 156 observations), making it possible to study differences in short-run effects across four countries. In order to correct both non-stationarity and multicollinearity, first-differenced standardized variables (N = 156) were used, reducing VIF values below 1.04 and significantly lessening the potential for false discoveries associated with spurious regression. The study utilized Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regressions, with heteroskedasticity-consistent covariance matrix estimator type 3 (HC3) using robust standard errors, and a fixed effects (FE) model identified by Hausman Test (χ² = 31.49; p < 0.001). Results indicate INN was statistically significant with regard to EG in the short-run (β* = 0.2508; p = 0.007), while CS and DS did not have short-term predictive value for EG. The combined model accounted for 6.5% of variations in EG (R² = 0.065; p = 0.017). Findings indicate INN was the only significant predictor of immediate productivity, while effects from CS and DS will be longer in duration before becoming evident and measurable. The non-significant effects of CS and DS should be interpreted as a lack of contemporaneous short-run predictive power in this first-differenced specification and not as evidence of long-term economic irrelevance. Robustness measures confirmed all results across alternative model specifications were consistent.
Achieving sustainable development requires institutional arrangements capable of integrating social equity, economic inclusion, and environmental stewardship within coherent governance frameworks. Although Islamic social finance (ISF)—particularly almsgiving (Zakat) and charitable endowments (Waqf)—has been extensively discussed in relation to poverty alleviation and welfare governance, its role within sustainability transitions and institutional governance innovation remains insufficiently theorized. This study develops a conceptual framework that integrates institutional theory, the multi-level perspective (MLP) on sustainability transitions, and social-ecological systems (SES) analysis to examine how ISF may function as a transition-oriented institutional configuration. Drawing on a comprehensive review of 278 peer-reviewed and institutional sources, the analysis identifies four recurring institutional mechanisms: regulatory embedding, strategic resource reallocation, hybrid governance experimentation, and legitimacy reframing. These mechanisms operate across landscape, regime, and niche levels and are illustrated through documented governance models, including integrated Zakat-Waqf-microfinance systems and pilot-scale initiatives reflecting emerging environmental orientation within ISF practice and literature. The study further highlights structural constraints, including regulatory fragmentation and nascent environmental measurement approaches, that condition the extent to which these instruments may support sustainability-oriented institutional adaptation. The findings suggest that Zakat and Waqf possess institutional characteristics compatible with sustainability transitions when embedded within coherent policy and governance frameworks. Rather than assuming automatic transformative potential, the study positions ISF as a context-dependent institutional pathway that may contribute to inclusive development and, under specific regulatory and institutional conditions, to governance frameworks where environmental priorities are institutionally integrated.
Financial Inclusion (FI) can have a significant role in Renewable Energy Transition (RET) in any region. This study investigates this nexus in the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework of the resource-rich and geographically closed Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economies from 2000–2024. The Spatial Autoregressive (SAR) model is applied to this relationship due to economic, geographic, and policy interdependencies in the GCC region. RET is captured by Renewable Energy Output (REO) and consumption to analyze both demand- and supply-side proxies of the RET. The results show that RET in one economy has positive spillovers in the neighboring economies. However, FI negatively influences the RET in both proxies of the REO and Renewable Energy Consumption (REC). Thus, FI could not support the RET in the GCC region. Income per capita has a U-shaped effect on the RET. Therefore, economic growth can support the RET after a threshold point. Moreover, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Trade Openness (TO), and Human Capital (HC) promote the RET. The findings have significant implications for sustainable development in the GCC region. The results suggest that the GCC governments should support the financial sector in financing the renewable energy sector. Moreover, supporting globalization and HC development can enhance the RET. The positive spillovers also suggest regional coordination on sustainable energy policies.
The transition toward sustainable urban mobility in emerging economies requires not only technological innovation but also a deeper understanding of market adoption dynamics. This study examines the behavioral determinants of the adoption of solar-assisted micro-mobility among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in urban Indonesia. Positioned at the intersection of renewable energy integration and sustainable transportation systems, the research investigates how environmental concern, performance expectancy, operational cost, and price shape users’ attitudes and subsequently influence adoption intention. A quantitative approach was employed using survey data collected from 300 MSME operators, and the relationships among constructs were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that attitude serves as a central mediating mechanism through which environmental, technological, and economic factors are significantly associated with adoption intention. Among the predictors, performance expectancy emerges as the most influential driver, followed by environmental concern, while operational cost and price play supporting but significant roles within a value-based evaluation framework. The findings highlight that adoption of solar-assisted mobility is primarily driven by perceived functional benefits and sustainability value rather than cost considerations alone. This study contributes to the sustainability literature by advancing a holistic behavioral adoption model for renewable energy-based mobility in emerging urban contexts. The results provide practical implications for policymakers and industry stakeholders in designing strategies to accelerate the diffusion of low-carbon mobility solutions, particularly among resource-constrained MSMEs.
Born global firms (BGFs) play a significant role in the expansion of sustainable industries through their rapid internationalisation and early adoption of innovation-oriented organisational frameworks. However, in emerging markets, sustainable global expansion is often constrained by organisational inefficiencies, infrastructural challenges, and intense international competition. In this context, the present study examines the influence of Global Entrepreneurial Orientation (GEO) and Global Managerial Competence (GMC) on Sustainable International Expansion Outcomes (SIEO), aligned with the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). The study is grounded in the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Dynamic Capabilities Theory (DCT), which explain how firms develop, integrate, and utilise strategic capabilities to achieve competitiveness in international markets. The proposed conceptual framework is empirically tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) based on primary data collected from 430 executives and administrators of international firms operating in India, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates. The findings reveal that GEO significantly enhances GMC and positively influences SIEO. Furthermore, GMC significantly moderates the relationship between GEO and SIEO. The negative interaction effect indicates a buffering pattern, whereby the positive influence of GEO on SIEO becomes less pronounced at higher levels of managerial competence. These findings demonstrate that entrepreneurial orientation and managerial competence interact in shaping the sustainable international expansion of BGFs. This study contributes to the international entrepreneurship literature by integrating sustainability perspectives with strategic orientation, managerial capability, and international performance. The findings also provide valuable managerial and policy implications for business leaders and policymakers in emerging economies seeking to foster sustainable international growth.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development faces considerable implementation challenges in border regions, where natural and socio‑economic processes transcend administrative boundaries. This study assesses progress towards selected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in two Russian border regions: the Republic of Buryatia and Zabaikalsky Krai, which share borders with China and Mongolia, and identifies directions for bilateral cooperation based on the transboundary challenges. Based on official data from the Federal State Statistics Service of Russia for 2010–2024, the authors analysed 39 indicators covering SDGs 6, 8, 11, 13, 15 and 17. Growth rates were calculated and compared with national averages. The results reveal contrasting development models: Zabaikalsky Krai shows strong economic growth (gross regional product per capita index 114.3% in 2023) but critical deficits in access to quality drinking water (58.1% vs. national 89.2%), safe sanitation (49.2%), buses for persons with reduced mobility (3.2%), and protected forest areas (0.94%). The Republic of Buryatia performs better in social and environmental spheres (urban water access 86.0%, sanitation 80.5%, equipped buses 61.9%, reforestation ratio 247%) but lags economically—gross regional product (GRP) per capita index at 101.1%—and faces unique constraints from strict Baikal environmental norms (only 2.5% of wastewater meets those standards). Both regions suffer extreme wildfires and dispose of almost all municipal solid waste in landfills without recycling. The conclusions indicate that joint bilateral actions should include harmonised environmental standards and monitoring methodologies, creation of cross‑border demonstration zones, and coordinated wildfire and water management. These findings can inform regional strategies, bilateral environmental projects, and statistical harmonisation within BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
This study aims to inform evidence-based policy for climate change adaptation in the Philippines by estimating the climate sensitivity of household electricity demand among select cities in Metro Manila during the COVID-19 pandemic. Localized climate data from 2001 to 2021 were matched to households based on their city of residence to construct measures of climate variability. Heat Index (HI), which combines temperature and relative humidity, provides a measure of perceived thermal discomfort. Cooling Degree Days (CDD), defined as the number of days when daily HI exceeds a long-run threshold of 34.82 °C (the 75th percentile of historical HI), serve as another indicator of exposure to extreme heat conditions. Correlated random effects (Mundlak) regressions reveal strong climate sensitivity of electricity use. Household electricity consumption increases when high temperature coincides with high humidity. A 1 °C rise in HI leads to a 19 kWh increase in monthly electricity use, while an additional CDD raises monthly consumption by about 6 kWh. The estimated positive relationship between temperature, humidity, and electricity consumption is consistent with increased demand for cooling services during periods of higher thermal stress. Overall, the results suggest that households adjust their electricity consumption in response to perceived heat conditions through a range of cooling-related behaviors. However, electricity demand among lower-income households is significantly less responsive to climate fluctuations, which may indicate limited adaptive capacity amidst greater thermal discomfort. Conversely, higher-income households exhibit greater responsiveness, highlighting their potential for targeted adoption of energy-efficient appliances and rooftop solar systems. The results underscore the importance of climate-sensitive energy policies that simultaneously advance climate mitigation goals and address equity concerns.
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