In the wake of rapid digital transformation, emerging technologies like FinTech, AI, and Blockchain are reimagining how countries pursue sustainable development. This study examines how FinTech adoption, Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness, and Blockchain activity influence sustainable development performance across G20 economies over the period 2015–2023. Drawing on Innovation-Driven Growth Theory, the Technology–Organization–Environment framework, and Institutional Theory, the analysis evaluates both the direct and complementary effects of these digital technologies on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) outcomes using cross-country panel data and key macroeconomic controls. The results show that FinTech, AI, and Blockchain each exert a positive and statistically significant impact on national sustainability performance, with AI exhibiting the strongest effect. Moreover, the findings reveal meaningful digital complementarities, indicating that coordinated adoption of these technologies amplifies sustainable development gains. Overall, the study provides robust macro-level evidence that digital transformation functions as a strategic driver of sustainability and offers policy-relevant insights for G20 governments seeking to accelerate inclusive, transparent, and environmentally responsible development.

The accelerating global energy transition has substantially increased demand for critical minerals such as copper, nickel, and lithium, positioning mining firms as key actors in the decarbonization of energy systems. However, the expansion of mineral extraction raises important sustainability challenges because mining activities remain highly energy- and carbon-intensive. This study investigates whether green innovation can simultaneously improve environmental performance and financial performance in critical mineral mining firms and examines the moderating role of institutional governance. Using a balanced panel of 35 publicly listed mining companies from Australia, Canada, Chile, Brazil, and Indonesia over the period 2015–2024, the analysis applies fixed-effects panel regressions complemented by dynamic specifications and multiple robustness tests, including alternative variable definitions and System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation. The results show that green innovation significantly reduces carbon intensity, indicating that environmental investments in renewable energy integration, electrification, and process efficiency contribute to improving emissions performance in mining operations. Green innovation also enhances firm financial performance, although the benefits emerge gradually over time, suggesting delayed financial gains followed by long-term efficiency improvements. Furthermore, governance quality strengthens the positive relationship between green innovation and firm performance, highlighting the importance of institutional environments in shaping the economic returns of sustainability strategies. By providing firm-level evidence across major mineral-producing economies, this study contributes to the literature on critical minerals, environmental finance, and the institutional dimensions of the just energy transition.

Climate change has emerged as a critical external factor influencing firm performance, particularly in regions susceptible to extreme weather conditions. As environmental variability intensifies, firms operating in climate-sensitive sectors must understand how climate risks translate into financial outcomes. This study investigates the impact of key climate-related variables, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind speed, on firm performance indicators, namely Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), and Tobin’s Q (TBQ), using a panel dataset of firms listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange between 2010 and 2022 using two complementary econometric approaches: a fixed effects regression model and a dynamic panel Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator. The fixed effects results reveal that precipitation and specific humidity negatively affect accounting-based performance, while relative humidity and wet-bulb temperature have positive effects on both ROA and ROE. Wind speed emerges as a significant disruptor, reducing both operational returns and market valuation. Tobin’s Q is less consistently affected, likely due to external market factors. The GMM results largely confirm these findings with improved statistical rigor, reinforcing the negative impact of rainfall and humidity and the positive effects of moderate temperature and humidity on firm performance. These findings carry substantial implications for policy makers and corporate leaders, particularly in the context of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

This study investigates the impact of renewable energy, environmental technology, foreign direct investment (FDI), and globalization on green economic growth in South Africa within the framework of the country’s National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030, covering the period from 1997 to 2024. Using annual data and applying advanced panel techniques, including the CS-ARDL model supported by AMG and CCEMG estimators, the analysis captures both long-run and short-run dynamics. The quantitative findings indicate that renewable energy exerts a strong positive influence on green economic growth, with long-run and short-run coefficients of 0.318 and 0.142 (both significant at the 1% level). Environmental technology also shows a positive and significant impact, with coefficients of 0.274 in the long run (1% level) and 0.105 in the short run (10% level). FDI contributes positively to green growth, as reflected in the long-run and short-run coefficients of 0.186 (at the 1% level) and 0.083 (at the 10% level). In contrast, globalization exhibits a weak and slightly negative long-run effect, with a coefficient of –0.097 (significant at the 10% level). The significant negative error-correction term confirms a stable long-run adjustment process. These findings imply that renewable energy expansion, technological innovation, and environmentally responsible FDI are crucial pillars of South Africa’s sustainable growth strategy. Based on these results, the study recommends intensifying efforts to promote renewable energy investment, strengthen research and development in environmental technologies, and attract green-oriented FDI through clear regulatory incentives. In addition, trade and globalization policies should be redesigned to ensure ecological balance and compliance with sustainability standards. Overall, the study offers practical policy insights to support South Africa’s transition toward a low-carbon, resilient economy.

This study investigates the relationship between financial innovation, financial development, and economic growth in eight Sub-Saharan African countries from 2011 to 2021. Using panel data analysis, the study incorporates financial innovation indicators such as internal credit to the private sector, openness to international trade, gross capital formation, and information and communication technology, while financial development is measured through the size of financial intermediaries and stock market capitalization. The findings reveal that internal credit, capital formation, and stock market development do not significantly influence economic growth in the region, whereas information and communication technology and openness to trade show a positive impact. These results suggest that technology-driven and trade-related financial innovations play a more critical role in driving economic growth than traditional financial metrics. Accordingly, the study provides practical implications for policymakers in Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasizing the need to support financial innovation through ICT investment and trade openness to enhance the efficiency of financial markets and stimulate sustainable economic development.

Cryptocurrencies are decentralized digital currencies secured by blockchain technology. Their growing popularity has a significant impact on traditional financial markets. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of cryptocurrency investment on stock financial development. Our empirical evidence is conducted on (30) Canadian firms during the period August 2017- May 2023. The firms are the most important companies in the financial sector. The results of the VECM estimation show a positive and significative impact of Bitcoin Value on each variable assessing stock market development in long term as Market Liquidity, Market Size, Market Capitalization. In short term, this same relationship is observed with Market Size and Market Liquidity. Bitcoin value has a negative impact on Market Capitalization. The Exchange Rate and Unemployment Rate provide a negative and significant relationship towards stock market development in the long-term. In contrast, the short-term relationship results show that Exchange Rate acts positively only on the Market Capitalization. In contrast, Market Liquidity has a positive impact on the Exchange Rate. Moreover, we find the absence of the impact of Unemployment Rate on Stock Financial Development in short term. But, there is a significant and negative incidence of Market Liquidity and Market Size on Unemployment Rate. Our results demonstrate also the positive and significant impact of Unemployment Rate on Bitcoin Value.