Ainulhaq Naibi, Folad Amar Khel
Volume 8 Issue 1 | Jun 2025
DOI: 10.31841/KJEMS.2025.179
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Abstract
This study investigates the impact of green banking practices on the environmental performance of commercial banks in Kabul, Afghanistan, while examining the mediating role of green financing. The study employs a quantitative research design, utilising data gathered from a sample of 201 banking professionals spanning both private and public financial institutions. Green banking practices are categorised into employee-related, operational, and customer-related dimensions, each explained with clear definitions and relevant examples. Environmental performance is operationalised through a multi-dimensional framework, including greenhouse gas emissions, energy savings, digitalisation efforts, and the adoption of environmental management systems. Structural equation modelling reveals that all three categories of green practices significantly improve environmental performance.
Furthermore, green financing partially mediates these relationships, reinforcing its strategic role in translating internal sustainability into tangible outcomes. Common method bias was mitigated through procedural controls, including respondent anonymity and varied measurement techniques. Although limited to Kabul, the study justifies its focus on the country's financial hub while recommending that future research include other major Afghan cities to enhance generalizability. The findings align with the Natural Resource-Based View, suggesting that environmental capabilities lead to strategic advantages. The paper concludes with implications for banks, regulators, and policymakers aiming to promote sustainable finance in Afghanistan.
Keywords: Afghanistan, Environmental Performance, Green Banking Practices, Green Financing, Natural Resource-Based View (NRBV), Sustainability