Green finance and sustainability: mapping research development through bibliometric analysis

Environmental concern is a significant driver of demand for sustainable initiatives, emphasizing the significance of green finance in academic research. While sustainability issues attract increasing global focus, the need to map the development and thematic evolution of green finance becomes important. Therefore, the present study mounts the development and thematic evolution of green finance through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis. Using the Scopus database, we analyzed 887 articles to identify key trends, collaboration networks, and thematic clusters. It was found that China has made a significant contribution to academic literature and has had notable collaborations with South Asian institutions. The central themes are carbon emissions, green technology innovation, and renewable energy. The two advanced bibliometric tools, Biblioshiny and VOSviewer create thematic maps, co-citation networks, and keyword analyses to provide insights into the intellectual structure of green finance research. Based on this study, the most influential authors, major journals, and emerging research areas are pinpointed to offer a pathway for future research in this multidisciplinary domain. The study’s findings underscore green finance’s significant role in achieving sustainable development and promoting environmentally friendly initiatives.