Sustainable Financing and Green Bonds in the Turkish Banking Sector: Compliance with ESG Criteria and Strategic Impacts

Abstract

This study examines the strategic impact of sustainable finance and green bonds on the Turkish banking sector. It analyses how compliance with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria influences banking practices, risk management frameworks, and the sector’s sustainability orientation. Academic studies published between 2015 and 2024 are reviewed using a thematic analysis approach. The analysis explores how sustainable finance practices and ESG compliance shape banks’ environmental and social responsibility policies, corporate governance structures, credit allocation, and long-term strategic decisions. Out of 83 studies identified in the literature, 24 articles meeting the research scope and methodological criteria are included in the detailed analysis. The findings show that green bonds constitute a key financial instrument that supports economic development while enhancing environmental sustainability, strengthening funding structures, and reducing financing costs within the banking sector. For the further development of the green bond market in Turkey, the study proposes regulatory harmonisation and transparency.

Keywords

• Sustainable Financing
• Green Bonds
• ESG Criteria
• Banking Sector

Türk Bankacılık Sektöründe Sürdürülebilir Finansman ve Yeşil Tahviller: ESG Kriterlerine Uyum ve Stratejik Etkiler

Abstract

Bu çalışma, sürdürülebilir finansman ve yeşil tahvillerin Türk bankacılık sektörü üzerindeki stratejik etkilerini incelemektedir. Araştırmanın amacı, ESG (Çevresel, Sosyal ve Yönetişim) kriterlerine uyumun bankacılık uygulamaları, risk yönetimi çerçeveleri ve sektörün sürdürülebilirlik yönelimi üzerindeki etkisini analiz etmektir. Bu kapsamda, 2015–2024 yılları arasında yayımlanmış akademik çalışmalar tematik analiz yöntemi kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Analiz, sürdürülebilir finans uygulamaları ve ESG uyumunun bankaların çevresel ve sosyal sorumluluk politikalarını, kurumsal yönetişim yapılarını ve uzun vadeli stratejik kararlarını nasıl şekillendirdiğine odaklanmaktadır. Literatürde belirlenen toplam 83 çalışmadan, araştırmanın kapsamı ve metodolojik kriterlerine uygun bulunan 24 makale ayrıntılı analize dâhil edilmiştir. Bulgular, yeşil tahvillerin ekonomik kalkınmayı desteklerken çevresel sürdürülebilirliği güçlendiren, bankacılık sektöründe fonlama yapısını iyileştiren ve finansman maliyetlerini azaltan önemli bir finansal araç olduğunu göstermektedir. Türkiye’de yeşil tahvil piyasasının gelişimi için yasal düzenlemelerin uluslararası standartlarla uyumlaştırılması, teşvik mekanizmalarının güçlendirilmesi, raporlama altyapısının geliştirilmesi ve piyasa şeffaflığının artırılması önerilmektedir. Bu öneriler, düzenleyici kurumlar ve finansal kuruluşlar için politika odaklı önemli çıkarımlar sunmaktadır.

Keywords

• Sürdürülebilir Finansman
• Yeşil Tahviller
• ESG Kriterleri
• Bankacılık Sektörü

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