Green Economy and Public Sector Innovation: A Narrative Review of Global Transitions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61194/economics.v3i3.869Keywords:
Green Economy, Sustainable Development, Health Literacy, Digital Transformation, Stakeholder Participation, Green Finance, Policy IntegrationAbstract
This study presents a narrative review of global and local practices in advancing sustainable development through green economy policies, health literacy initiatives, and digital transformation in the public sector. The aim of the review was to synthesize empirical and theoretical contributions to understand the enabling and constraining factors that shape sustainability outcomes. Literature was systematically collected from Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using keyword combinations such as “green economy,” “health literacy,” and “digital transformation,” with inclusion criteria focusing on peer-reviewed articles published between 2018 and 2024. A total of 126 articles were reviewed after screening 312 records. The results reveal that sustainability has emerged as a central policy and research theme, with evidence showing that green finance, carbon pricing, and stakeholder engagement significantly enhance ecological and economic performance. Comparative insights highlight that developed nations benefit from robust infrastructure and regulatory frameworks, while developing countries face systemic challenges including financial limitations, policy uncertainty, and social inequalities. The discussion underscores the importance of multisectoral collaboration, public education, and fiscal instruments in overcoming these barriers. However, gaps remain in the literature, particularly regarding long-term impacts and the experiences of marginalized populations. The review concludes that advancing sustainable development requires integrative strategies that combine ecological, economic, and social dimensions, with future research needed to explore innovative and inclusive approaches that ensure equitable progress.
References
Afridi, F., Afridi, S., Zahid, R., Khan, W., & Anwar, W. (2023). Embracing green banking as a mean of expressing green behavior in a developing economy: exploring the mediating role of green culture. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 31(34), 46137-46147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-25449-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-25449-z
Bell, K. (2017). ‘Living well’ as a path to social, ecological and economic sustainability. Urban Planning, 2(4), 19-33. https://doi.org/10.17645/up.v2i4.1006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17645/up.v2i4.1006
Buseth, J. & Bergius, M. (2019). Towards a green modernization development discourse: the new green revolution in Africa. Journal of Political Ecology, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.2458/v26i1.22862 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2458/v26i1.22862
Chen, S., Xu, X., & Own, C. (2024). The impact of green finance and technological innovation on corporate environmental performance: driving sustainable energy transitions. Energies, 17(23), 5959. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17235959 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en17235959
Freed, S., Barman, B., Dubois, M., Flor, R., Funge‐Smith, S., Gregory, R., … & Cohen, P. (2020). Maintaining diversity of integrated rice and fish production confers adaptability of food systems to global change. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.576179 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.576179
Fu, M., Huang, S., & Ahmed, S. (2024). Assessing the impact of green finance on sustainable tourism development in China. Heliyon, 10(10), e31099. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31099 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31099
Gibbs, D. & O’Neill, K. (2015). Building a green economy? sustainability transitions in the UK building sector. Geoforum, 59, 133-141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2014.12.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2014.12.004
Gu, Y., Chen, J., Xi, W., Ibrahim, R., & Al‐Faryan, M. (2024). Toward environmental sustainability: is responsible consumption and production of natural resources amid green energy, green technology, and green finance achievable? Natural Resources Forum. https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-8947.12578 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-8947.12578
Hernández‐Delgado, E. (2024). Coastal restoration challenges and strategies for small island developing states in the face of sea level rise and climate change. Coasts, 4(2), 235-286. https://doi.org/10.3390/coasts4020014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/coasts4020014
Heshmati, A. (2018). An empirical survey of the ramifications of a green economy. International Journal of Green Economics, 12(1), 53. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijge.2018.092359 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1504/IJGE.2018.10013437
Khan, P., Johl, S., & Akhtar, S. (2021). Firm sustainable development goals and firm financial performance through the lens of green innovation practices and reporting: a proactive approach. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 14(12), 605. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm14120605 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm14120605
Khoshnava, S., Rostami, R., Zin, R., Štreimikienė, D., Yousefpour, A., Striełkowski, W., … & Mardani, A. (2019). Aligning the criteria of green economy (GE) and sustainable development goals (SDGs) to implement sustainable development. Sustainability, 11(17), 4615. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11174615 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su11174615
Liu, Z. & Wang, M. (2022). Improving circular supply chain performance through green innovations: the moderating role of economic policy uncertainty. Sustainability, 14(24), 16888. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416888 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416888
Lübkert, P., Halimi, S., & Amancio, M. (2020). Demonstrating the applicability and value of high level OECD policy goals through the delivery of operational services. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 588(5), 052057. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/588/5/052057 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/588/5/052057
Lü, Y. & Park, S. (2022). Time series analysis of policy discourse on green consumption in China: text mining and network analysis. Sustainability, 14(22), 14704. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214704 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214704
Mahajan, R., Kumar, S., Lim, W., & Sareen, M. (2024). The role of business and management in driving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): current insights and future directions from a systematic review. Business Strategy and the Environment, 33(5), 4493-4529. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3712 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3712
Mulaessa, N. & Lefen, L. (2021). How do proactive environmental strategies affect green innovation? the moderating role of environmental regulations and firm performance. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(17), 9083. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18179083 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18179083
Nuaimi, B., Khan, M., & Ajmal, M. (2020). Implementing sustainable procurement in the United Arab Emirates public sector. Journal of Public Procurement, 20(2), 97-117. https://doi.org/10.1108/jopp-07-2019-0044 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JOPP-07-2019-0044
Nwachukwu, C. (2023). Green agriculture and food security, a review. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1178(1), 012005. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1178/1/012005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1178/1/012005
Ostapenko, Y., Zadykhaylo, D., Lyseiuk, A., Tunitska, Y., & Syerova, L. (2024). Global practices and experiences in developing a green economy amid financial crises. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 7(3), 244-270. https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.070314 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33002/nr2581.6853.070314
Putri, R., Werastuti, D., Rustiarini, N., Sutoto, A., Wahyono, E., Wardono, B., … & Vayed, D. (2024). Assessing the role of carbon taxes in driving low-carbon transformations: a comparative analysis of implementation policies. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 19(3), 1171-1180. https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.190335 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.190335
Raman, R., Sreenivasan, A., Suresh, M., Patwardhan, A., & Nedungadi, P. (2023). Green supply chain management research trends and linkages to UN Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainability, 15(22), 15848. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152215848 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su152215848
Sadik‐Zada, E. & Gatto, A. (2023). Grow first, clean up later? dropping old paradigms and opening up new horizons of sustainable development. Sustainability, 15(4), 3595. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043595 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043595
Šafář, V., Charvát, K., Mildorf, T., Crehan, P., Kolitzus, D., Orlickas, T., … & Kubíčková, H. (2022). The role of remote sensing in agriculture and future vision. AGRIS On-Line Papers in Economics and Informatics, 14(1), 107-124. https://doi.org/10.7160/aol.2022.140109 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7160/aol.2022.140109
Ulya, N., Harianja, A., Sayekti, A., Yulianti, A., Djaenudin, D., Martin, E., … & Astana, S. (2023). Coffee agroforestry as an alternative to the implementation of green economy practices in Indonesia: a systematic review. AIMS Agriculture and Food, 8(3), 762-788. https://doi.org/10.3934/agrfood.2023041 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3934/agrfood.2023041
Walia, S., Babu, S., Gill, R., Kaur, T., Noopur, K., Panwar, A., … & Ansari, M. (2022). Designing resource-efficient and environmentally safe cropping systems for sustainable energy use and economic returns in Indo-Gangetic Plains, India. Sustainability, 14(21), 14636. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114636 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114636
Watts, B., Zago, V., Gopakumar, L., Ghazaryan, K., & Movsesyan, H. (2023). Uncharted risk measures for the management of sustainable mining. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 19(4), 949-960. https://doi.org/10.1002/ieam.4769 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ieam.4769
Ye, J., Fanyang, Y., Wang, J., Meng, S., & Tang, D. (2024). A literature review of green building policies: perspectives from bibliometric analysis. Buildings, 14(9), 2607. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092607 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092607
Zinzani, A. (2023). The contested environmental futures of the Dolomites: a political ecology of mountains. Geographica Helvetica, 78(2), 295-307. https://doi.org/10.5194/gh-78-295-2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/gh-78-295-2023
