Fostering green innovation in urban renewal: the role of green training and knowledge transformation for sustainable cities

Large-scale urban renewal projects in rapidly urbanizing regions often generate substantial environmental burdens. This study examines how corporate green training translates into employee green innovation through a knowledge transformation mechanism. Grounded in behavioral and organizational perspectives, we employ Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test nine hypothesized relationships and develop a Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM) to extend the analysis from static associations to dynamic scenario simulation. Results show that green training significantly strengthens employees’ green knowledge, environmental awareness, and green attitudes, which jointly enhance behavioral intention and, in turn, promote green innovation practices. Dynamic simulations further indicate that interventions targeting green training and green knowledge yield the strongest and fastest improvements in green innovation outcomes. This study contributes by (i) clarifying the behavioral pathway through which training-driven knowledge is transformed into innovation capability and (ii) integrating PLS-SEM with FCM to reveal both structural effects and their dynamic evolution. The findings offer actionable insights for enterprises and policymakers seeking to accelerate sustainability transitions in urban renewal.