"Linking CSR to Green Lending: The Transition Toward Sustainable Finance in Emerging Economies"

The growing urgency surrounding climate change and social inequality has compelled financial institutions to integrate sustainability into their main operations. Corporate Social Responsibility and green lending have become two key ways for banks to contribute to sustainable development, particularly in emerging economies. This study considers how CSR practices influence the adoption and intensity of green lending in emerging markets. Based on survey data from banking practitioners and corporate sustainability officers, the study uses Structural Equation Modeling to investigate the direct and mediating links among CSR orientation, stakeholder pressures, risk perception, and green lending results. The findings show that CSR commitment considerably boosts green lending activities, both directly and indirectly through improved partner trust and reduced perceived environmental risk. This research contributes to the sustainable finance literature by providing empirical evidence from emerging market economies and practical recommendations for planners and firms in that role who are concerned with moving quickly toward sustainable finance.