The evolution of green finance research: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis

The article investigates the evolution of green finance research through bibliometrics using 1923 publications from the Web of Science. It identifies key contributors, influential publications, and collaboration networks, while revealing three distinct research stages: (1) carbon finance and markets (2008-2010), (2) climate finance, climate policy, and climate change (2011-2017), and (3) sustainable development goals and financial development (2018-2022). Emerging topics such as green energy, green technology, carbon emissions, and the digital economy are highlighted. The result emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of green finance, intersecting with environmental science, economics, and technology. The increasing publication and citation trends post-2019 reflect the growing importance of green finance in addressing global sustainability challenges. The findings offer valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, helping to identify knowledge gaps and future directions in green finance.

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Publication Details

Journal
Heliyon
Published
2025-01-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42161
Citations
11
Primary Topic
Sustainable Finance and Green Bonds
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
24.28
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article

The evolution of green finance research: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis

Guizhou Wang, Haixia Cui, Kjell Hausken
11 citations
Heliyon
Sustainable Finance and Green Bonds
24.28
article

The evolution of green finance research: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis

Guizhou Wang, Haixia Cui, Kjell Hausken
article en
11 citations

Abstract

The article investigates the evolution of green finance research through bibliometrics using 1923 publications from the Web of Science. It identifies key contributors, influential publications, and collaboration networks, while revealing three distinct research stages: (1) carbon finance and markets (2008-2010), (2) climate finance, climate policy, and climate change (2011-2017), and (3) sustainable development goals and financial development (2018-2022). Emerging topics such as green energy, green technology, carbon emissions, and the digital economy are highlighted. The result emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of green finance, intersecting with environmental science, economics, and technology. The increasing publication and citation trends post-2019 reflect the growing importance of green finance in addressing global sustainability challenges. The findings offer valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, helping to identify knowledge gaps and future directions in green finance.

HeliyonVol. 11(3)
China Institute of Finance and Capital Markets (CN), University of Stavanger (NO)
Decent work and economic growth
Openalex Percentile: Top 0%
Sustainable Finance and Green Bonds
24.28
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The evolution of green finance research: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis — Guizhou Wang, Haixia Cui, et al. · Heliyon (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS