Abstract
In a world facing unprecedented challenges, such as climate change, resource depletion, social inequality, and increasing armed conflicts, the role of leadership has never been more critical in shaping a sustainable future for humanity.
Prior research has recognized sustainability as a wicked problem that encompasses numerous dimensions and challenges (Kerekes, 2023; Likhacheva et al., 2023). At its core, sustainability seeks to achieve a harmonious balance between the well-being of present and future generations and the planet's capacity to support life and provide resources. The complexity arises from the intricate interconnectedness of environmental, social, and economic systems, with each influencing the others (Metcalf and Benn, 2013) in ways that are unique to each country and region. For instance, financing presents a particularly intricate issue for developing countries and the global south, as they withstand the worst of the impacts of climate change (Aminu et al., 2023).
The knowledge base on sustainability and leadership is growing rapidly, addressing some sustainability dimensions and challenges and relating to managerial leadership, sustainable leadership, leadership for sustainable change, leadership for corporate sustainability, responsible leadership, and ethical and transformational leadership, but mostly on corporate levels and in developing countries (Hallinger and Suriyankietkaew, 2018; Zhao, L. et al., 2023). Furthermore, there is a lack of research on the long-term impact of sustainability strategies and a lack of standardized metrics and measurement tools for assessing sustainable leadership practices poses challenges for evaluating their effectiveness and making meaningful comparisons across organizations.
Prior research has recognized sustainability as a wicked problem that encompasses numerous dimensions and challenges (Kerekes, 2023; Likhacheva et al., 2023). At its core, sustainability seeks to achieve a harmonious balance between the well-being of present and future generations and the planet's capacity to support life and provide resources. The complexity arises from the intricate interconnectedness of environmental, social, and economic systems, with each influencing the others (Metcalf and Benn, 2013) in ways that are unique to each country and region. For instance, financing presents a particularly intricate issue for developing countries and the global south, as they withstand the worst of the impacts of climate change (Aminu et al., 2023).
The knowledge base on sustainability and leadership is growing rapidly, addressing some sustainability dimensions and challenges and relating to managerial leadership, sustainable leadership, leadership for sustainable change, leadership for corporate sustainability, responsible leadership, and ethical and transformational leadership, but mostly on corporate levels and in developing countries (Hallinger and Suriyankietkaew, 2018; Zhao, L. et al., 2023). Furthermore, there is a lack of research on the long-term impact of sustainability strategies and a lack of standardized metrics and measurement tools for assessing sustainable leadership practices poses challenges for evaluating their effectiveness and making meaningful comparisons across organizations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| No. | ISSN 2076-3387 |
| Specialist publication | Administrative Sciences |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) |
| Publication status | Published - 20 Jan 2025 |
