Research Article

Green Finance and Sustainability Performance: The Moderating Role of Stakeholder Pressure

Volume: 12 Number: 3 February 8, 2026
TR EN

Green Finance and Sustainability Performance: The Moderating Role of Stakeholder Pressure

Abstract

Aim: Green finance has been a growing trend as a financial instrument for promoting sustainability outcomes in the last two decades. Specifically, green finance services and products can promote SDGs of the companies as they bring about benefits for the environment and economy such as funding renewable energy, reducing emissions, and less contamination project investment. This study explores the effect of green finance on companies' economic and environmental sustainability performance, examining the primary and secondary stakeholder pressures as moderators due to its leverage effect on this relationship. Method: The study investigates 82 Turkish firms in different industries, with quantitative methods. The collected data was used in regression analysis for direct hypothesis and moderation analysis conducted through Hayes’ PROCESS macro. Results: The findings of the study reveals that green finance positively correlates with both environmental and economic performance of the firms; whereas primary stakeholders which are employees, customers and investors reinforce the relationship of green finance and economic sustainability. However, it was found that employee pressure, customer/investor pressures did not moderate the link of green-finance and environmental sustainability. In contrast, secondary stakeholder pressures that are media and NGOs were insignificant as a moderator in the relationship of green finance and firms economic and environmental sustainability performance. Conclusion: This study reveals that green finance has an effective role to promote sustainable development whereas stakeholder pressure remains as prominent factor for green finance strategy.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

İstanbul Kent Üniversitesi

Ethical Statement

With the decision numbered 2025/05 of the Ethics Committee of Social and Human Sciences at Istanbul Kent University, the study was approved as ethically appropriate.

References

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  3. BAAH, C., OPOKU-AGYEMAN, D., ACQUAH, I. S. K., AGYABENG-MENSAH, Y., AFUM, E., FAIBIL, D., & ABDOULAYE, F. A. M. (2021). Examining the correlations between stakeholder pressures, green production practices, firm reputation, environmental and financial performance: Evidence from manufacturing SMEs. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 27, 100–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2020.10.015
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  5. BAYTÖREN, E. (2018). Yeşil finansman. In D. USLU (Ed.), Yeşil işletme: Green business (pp. 99–108). Nobel Yayıncılık.
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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Environment and Climate Finance

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

December 26, 2025

Publication Date

February 8, 2026

Submission Date

September 27, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 22, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 12 Number: 3

APA
Bal Külahi, E., & Karibek, M. (2026). Green Finance and Sustainability Performance: The Moderating Role of Stakeholder Pressure. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Social Sciences, 12(3), 1343-1356. https://doi.org/10.17336/igusbd.1792228
AMA
1.Bal Külahi E, Karibek M. Green Finance and Sustainability Performance: The Moderating Role of Stakeholder Pressure. IGUJSS. 2026;12(3):1343-1356. doi:10.17336/igusbd.1792228
Chicago
Bal Külahi, Esra, and Milana Karibek. 2026. “Green Finance and Sustainability Performance: The Moderating Role of Stakeholder Pressure”. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Social Sciences 12 (3): 1343-56. https://doi.org/10.17336/igusbd.1792228.
EndNote
Bal Külahi E, Karibek M (February 1, 2026) Green Finance and Sustainability Performance: The Moderating Role of Stakeholder Pressure. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Social Sciences 12 3 1343–1356.
IEEE
[1]E. Bal Külahi and M. Karibek, “Green Finance and Sustainability Performance: The Moderating Role of Stakeholder Pressure”, IGUJSS, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 1343–1356, Feb. 2026, doi: 10.17336/igusbd.1792228.
ISNAD
Bal Külahi, Esra - Karibek, Milana. “Green Finance and Sustainability Performance: The Moderating Role of Stakeholder Pressure”. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Social Sciences 12/3 (February 1, 2026): 1343-1356. https://doi.org/10.17336/igusbd.1792228.
JAMA
1.Bal Külahi E, Karibek M. Green Finance and Sustainability Performance: The Moderating Role of Stakeholder Pressure. IGUJSS. 2026;12:1343–1356.
MLA
Bal Külahi, Esra, and Milana Karibek. “Green Finance and Sustainability Performance: The Moderating Role of Stakeholder Pressure”. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Social Sciences, vol. 12, no. 3, Feb. 2026, pp. 1343-56, doi:10.17336/igusbd.1792228.
Vancouver
1.Esra Bal Külahi, Milana Karibek. Green Finance and Sustainability Performance: The Moderating Role of Stakeholder Pressure. IGUJSS. 2026 Feb. 1;12(3):1343-56. doi:10.17336/igusbd.1792228

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