The evolving landscape of green investments and sustainable development goals: a bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review

Purpose The growing global efforts toward sustainable economies and climate change mitigation have significantly intensified global interest in Green Investment (GI) as a key financial mechanism for sustainability. Hence, this study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis and Systematic Literature Review of GI research, mapping its evolution, emerging financial mechanisms and alignment with specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Design/methodology/approach This study combines a Bibliometric Analysis and Systematic Literature Review of 272 peer-reviewed articles (2007–2024) from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, employing Biblioshiny for Performance Analysis and VOSviewer to conduct Science Mapping. Findings The findings show a significant expansion of GI research since 2017, reflecting growing global climate commitments and the integration of sustainability within financial systems. China, India and Germany emerge as leading contributors, while Sustainability, Resources Policy and the Journal of Cleaner Production represent the most influential publication outlets. The intellectual structure of the field is organized around four interconnected themes: market-based green financial instruments, renewable energy finance, institutional integration of sustainable finance, and innovation-driven green investment. Originality/value This study provides a structured synthesis of the GI–SDGs literature, organizing existing research into an integrated analytical perspective. By triangulating quantitative mapping with qualitative synthesis, it links empirical patterns with theoretical insights, offering a more coherent understanding of how GI aligns with sustainability objectives, advancing both academic discourse and policy development in sustainable finance.