Green Finance and Sustainable Development: A Financial Analysis of ESG Investments

Main Article Content

Dr. Manoj P. K
Shailendra Kumar Singh
Dr. Abhilash N
Muralidhar V
A. Ruban Christopher
Simranpreet Kaur

Abstract

The growing emphasis on sustainable development and responsible investing has elevated the importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors within financial decision-making. Traditional accounting frameworks, focused predominantly on short-term profitability, are increasingly misaligned with the broader imperatives of green finance and long-term stakeholder value. The study explores the theoretical integration of ESG principles into accounting systems, aiming to contribute to the evolution of sustainable financial reporting and governance models. Adopting a qualitative, theoretical research methodology, the study conducted a structured literature synthesis of conceptual, normative, and institutional perspectives. The analysis was based on secondary sources, including peer-reviewed academic literature, policy documents, and theoretical models spanning ESG investment, accounting theory, and sustainability disclosure. The findings reveal that ESG integration necessitates a fundamental shift in accounting logic, moving beyond shareholder-centric valuation. Key theoretical outcomes include an ESG disclosure continuum, a stakeholder versus shareholder governance model, and a conceptual framework for ESG-integrated accounting systems. These models highlight the role of intangible value drivers, institutional pressures, and governance dynamics in shaping sustainable financial practices. The study underscores the need for accounting systems to evolve in response to ESG imperatives. It offers theoretical insights for academics, practitioners, and regulators, and recommends future empirical validation and digital finance applications to operationalize ESG-aligned accounting.

Article Details

Section

Articles

Author Biographies

Dr. Manoj P. K

Professor and Head, Department of Applied Economics, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Kochi, Kerala - 682 022, Email ID: manoj_p_k2004@yahoo.co.in, Orcid ID: 0000-0002-5710-1086

Shailendra Kumar Singh

Research Scholar, School of Law, Sun Rise University, Alwar, Rajasthan, Email ID: Shailendrapreet@gmail.com,
Orcid ID: 0009-0000-7486-6171

Dr. Abhilash N

Visiting Professor, Amrita School of Business, Amrita Vishwavidyapeetham, Amritapuri Campus, Kollam,
Email ID: abhiklrtvm@gmail.com, Orcid ID: 0000-0002-6331-649

Muralidhar V

Assistant Professor, NSB Academy, Bangalore, Email ID: vmuralidhar@nsb.edu.in

A. Ruban Christopher

Research Scholar, School of Management, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai, India,
Email ID: rubenchristophera@gmail.com, Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5081-3640 

Simranpreet Kaur

Assistant Professor, Department of Management Studies, CKD Institute of Management & Technology, Tarn Taran, Punjab, Email ID: kaursimranpreetsach@gmail.com , Orcid ID: 0009-0007-1855-5505 

How to Cite

Green Finance and Sustainable Development: A Financial Analysis of ESG Investments. (2025). The Journal of Theoretical Accounting Research, 21(2), 238-245. https://doi.org/10.53555/jtar.v21i2.51

References

1. Arjaliès, D. L., & Mundy, J. (2013). The use of management control systems to manage CSR strategy: A levers of control perspective. Management Accounting Research, 24(4), 284-300.

2. Arora, R. U., & Sarker, T. (2022). Financing for sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the era of COVID-19 and beyond. The European Journal of Development Research, 35(1), 1.

3. Berg, F., Kölbel, J. F., & Rigobon, R. (2022). Aggregate confusion: The divergence of ESG ratings. Review of Finance, 26(6), 1315-1344.

4. Busch, D., Ferrarini, G., & van den Hurk, A. (2021). The european commission’s sustainable finance action plan and other international initiatives. In Sustainable Finance in Europe: Corporate Governance, Financial Stability and Financial Markets (pp. 19-59). Cham: Springer International Publishing.

5. Clark, G. L., Feiner, A., & Viehs, M. (2015). From the stockholder to the stakeholder: How sustainability can drive financial outperformance. Available at SSRN 2508281.

6. Eccles, R. G., Ioannou, I., & Serafeim, G. (2014). The impact of corporate sustainability on organizational processes and performance. Management science, 60(11), 2835-2857.

7. Elkington, J., & Rowlands, I. H. (1999). Cannibals with forks: The triple bottom line of 21st century business. Alternatives Journal, 25(4), 42.

8. Fatemi, A., Glaum, M., & Kaiser, S. (2018). ESG performance and firm value: The moderating role of disclosure. Global finance journal, 38, 45-64.

9. Flammer, C. (2015). Does corporate social responsibility lead to superior financial performance? A regression discontinuity approach. Management science, 61(11), 2549-2568.

10. Friede, G., Busch, T., & Bassen, A. (2015). ESG and financial performance: aggregated evidence from more than 2000 empirical studies. Journal of sustainable finance & investment, 5(4), 210-233.

11. Gasperini, A. (2019). Principles for responsible investment (PRI) and ESG factors. In Climate Action (pp. 737-749). Cham: Springer International Publishing.

12. Gibson Brandon, R., Krueger, P., & Schmidt, P. S. (2021). ESG rating disagreement and stock returns. Financial analysts journal, 77(4), 104-127.

13. Hawley, J. P., & Williams, A. T. (2000). The rise of fiduciary capitalism: How institutional investors can make corporate America more democratic. University of Pennsylvania Press.

14. Khan, M., Serafeim, G., & Yoon, A. (2016). Corporate sustainability: First evidence on materiality. The accounting review, 91(6), 1697-1724.

15. Krüger, P. (2015). Corporate goodness and shareholder wealth. Journal of financial economics, 115(2), 304-329.

16. Laxton, V., Smith, C., & Neunuebel, C. (2022). How the International Monetary Fund and Member Countries Can Conduct Climate-Informed Article IV Surveillance. World Resources Institute.[doi. org/10.46830/wriwp. 21.00075].

17. Liang, H., & Renneboog, L. (2017). On the foundations of corporate social responsibility. The Journal of Finance, 72(2), 853-910.

18. Mok, L. W. (2024). An Enquiry into the Political Economy of Sustainable Finance Taxonomies. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Hong Kong).

19. Nofsinger, J., & Varma, A. (2014). Socially responsible funds and market crises. Journal of banking & finance, 48, 180-193.

20. Revelli, C., & Viviani, J. L. (2015). Financial performance of socially responsible investing (SRI): what have we learned? A meta‐analysis. Business Ethics: A European Review, 24(2), 158-185.

21. Samans, R., & Nelson, J. (2022). Sustainable enterprise value creation: Implementing stakeholder capitalism through full ESG integration (p. 289). Springer Nature.

22. Schoenmaker, D., & Schramade, W. (2018). Principles of sustainable finance. Oxford University Press.

23. Tayal, M., & Chopra, P. (2025). Sustainable Finance and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In Community Climate Justice and Sustainable Development (pp. 19-42). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.

24. Tiwari, S. K. (2024). The Future of Digital Retirement Solutions: A Study of Sustainability and Scalability in Financial Planning Tools. Journal of Computer Science and Technology Studies, 6(5), 229-245.

25. Uzsoki, D. (2020). Sustainable investing. International Institute for Sustainable Development.

26. Yeoh, P. (2021). The Sustainability of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Reporting in the US and the UK. Business Law Review, 42(6).