Embracing green banking as a mean of expressing green behavior in a developing economy: exploring the mediating role of green culture

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2024-07, Vol.31 (34), p.46137-46147
• Main Authors: Afridi, Fakhr e Alam, Afridi, Sajjad Ahmad, Zahid, R. M. Ammar, Khan, Wajid, Anwar, Waseem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: (Geo)Political Risk; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Attitudes; Banking; Behavior; Conservation of Natural Resources; Consumers; Corporate culture; COVID-19; Culture; Developing countries; Earth and Environmental Science; Economic Uncertainty; Economic Uncertainty, (Geo)Political Risk, and Sustainable Development Goals; Ecotoxicology; Education; Energy consumption; Environment; Environmental awareness; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental protection; Environmental science; Humans; Independent variables; Knowledge; LDCs; Natural resources; Pakistan; Pollution; Renewable resources; Statistical analysis; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sustainable development; Sustainable Development Goals; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25449-z

According to a plethora of research and publications, the volume and amount of pollution are largely attributable to human-made emissions. Even during the recently ended Covid-19 outbreak, there was a notable decrease in global pollution, particularly in Pakistan’s heavily populated cities. Due to the current situation, it is strategically important to safeguard the environment, and there are many criteria and predictors that should be used to encourage green behavior. This study examines green banking as a means of demonstrating ecologically responsible conduct in a developing nation. A survey questionnaire was used to collect information from 280 respondents via human contact and an internet platform. Software called SmartPLS3.0 was used to analyze the structural relationships between the study’s variables. The results show that customers’ adoption of green banking practices is statistically significantly influenced by their level of environmental consciousness and attitude. Similarly, green culture exhibits a substantial mediating influence between the independent variables and green behavior as well as a positive significant effect on green behavior. However, it is established that the consumer’s apparent behavioral control is negligible. Particularly, the cognitive connection between behavior and culture is weak and insufficient to forecast behavior. For policymakers, especially those working in the field of green education, this study has many real-world applications.