Environmental corporate social responsibility, citizenship behavior, and ethical climate: Drivers of female green entrepreneurial intention in Gilgit-Baltistan

Environmental corporate social responsibility (ECSR) refers to a company's commitment to sustainable environmental practices as part of its broader social responsibilities. This research aimed to find out how environmental corporate social responsibility (ECSR) influences female workers of small businesses to start eco-friendly ventures by considering environmental citizenship behavior (ECB) and ethical climate (EC), offering a novel examination of underlying mechanisms. Unlike previous studies, this research focuses solely on women, providing valuable insights into gender-specific environmental behavioral patterns and motivations. The analysis was conducted through structural equation modeling on 404 Gilgit-Baltistan workers. The study found a positive and significant direct and mediating relationship between the variables. Results indicate that caring for the environment through CSR helps become more successful over time. By focusing on a gender- and region-specific sample and exploring underlying mechanisms, this study provides novel insights into how organizational environmental initiatives can foster sustainable entrepreneurial outcomes. The findings support the NRBV framework, showing that environmental strategies enhance sustainability while developing unique human and organizational resources that drive innovation and entrepreneurial behavior. The study offers useful recommendations to female workers intending to be entrepreneurs in the future, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers, emphasizing the importance of a sustainable business environment and its impact on ecology.