Artificial Intelligence in Sustainable Finance: Mapping ESG Integration and Risk Detection Frameworks
-
https://doi.org/10.14419/166t8v12
Received date: November 12, 2025
Accepted date: December 15, 2025
Published date: December 27, 2025
-
Artificial Intelligence; Sustainable Investment; Green Finance; ESG; Risk Management -
Abstract
This systematic review explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being incorporated into sustainable investment practices, with a particular focus on its influence on decision-making processes, risk assessment, and the enhancement of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) outcomes. Drawing on 40 peer-reviewed studies published between 2018 and 2025, the review synthesizes the evolution of AI applications in responsible finance and identifies five major research clusters: (1) AI-driven ESG performance and sustainable finance integration, (2) AI, FinTech, and blockchain innovation for green finance, (3) AI-enhanced risk detection and financial resilience, (4) systematic and theoretical foundations of AI in sustainable finance, and (5) ethical, governance, and responsible AI frameworks.
Findings reveal that machine learning, natural language processing, and big data analytics are increasingly used to evaluate ESG indicators, optimize investment strategies, and improve transparency in sustainability reporting. However, several challenges persist, including algorithmic bias, data heterogeneity, limited model interpretability, and the absence of standardized ESG metrics. These limitations highlight the need for greater model transparency, ethical accountability, and interdisciplinary collaboration between data scientists, financial practitioners, and policymakers.
The review is framed by theoretical perspectives, including the Resource-Based View and Responsible AI frameworks, to contextualize AI’s role in sustainable investment. Also, this review demonstrates that AI is not merely a technological tool but a transformative driver of sustainable investment practices. By fostering responsible innovation, improving data reliability, and supporting evidence-based decision-making, AI has the potential to build a more transparent, resilient, and inclusive financial ecosystem, accelerating the global transition toward sustainable development.
-
References
- Al Halbusi, H., Popa, S., Soto-Acosta, P., & Alshallaqi, M. (2025). The nexus of managerial and technical AI knowledge, disruptive innovation, and the circular economy : The role of organizational change capability and financial resilience. Technology in Society, 82. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.102937.
- Al-Sartawi, A. M. A., Hussainey, K., & Razzaque, A. (2022). The role of artificial intelligence in sustainable finance. Journal of Sustainable Finance and Investment. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/20430795.2022.2057405.
- Arévalo, P., Benavides, D., Ochoa, D., Villacorta, A., Torres, D., & Villanueva-Machado, C. W. (2025). Smart Microgrid Management and Optimiza-tion : A Systematic Review Towards the Proposal of Smart Management Models. Algorithms, 18(7). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/a18070429.
- Aziz, F., Wang, X., Mahmood, M. Q., Awais, M., & Trenouth, B. (2024). Coastal urban flood risk management : Challenges and opportunities − A systematic review. Journal of Hydrology, 645. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.132271.
- Baran, M., Kuźniarska, A., Makieła, Z. J., Sławik, A., & Stuss, M. M. (2022). Does ESG Reporting Relate to Corporate Financial Performance in the Context of the Energy Sector Transformation? Evidence from Poland. Energies, 15(2), 477. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15020477.
- Cheong, B. C. (2024). Transparency and accountability in AI systems : Safeguarding wellbeing in the age of algorithmic decision-making. Frontiers in Human Dynamics, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fhumd.2024.1421273.
- Dmuchowski, P., Dmuchowski, W., Baczewska-Dąbrowska, A. H., & Gworek, B. (2023). Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) model; im-pacts and sustainable investment – Global trends and Poland’s perspective. Journal of Environmental Management, 329, 117023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.117023
- Elhady, A. M., & Shohieb, S. (2025). AI-driven sustainable finance : Computational tools, ESG metrics, and global implementation. Future Business Journal, 11(1), 209. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-025-00610-x
- Georgescu, I., Yazici, A. M., Bayram, V., Öztirak, M., Toy, A., & Doğan, M. (2025). Governing the Green Transition : The Role of Artificial Intelli-gence, Green Finance, and Institutional Governance in Achieving the SDGs Through Renewable Energy. Sustainability (Switzerland), 17(12). Sco-pus. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17125538.
- Gopal, S., & Pitts, J. (2024). ESG Integration : Unveiling Risk and Driving Innovation in Sustainable Finance. In S. Gopal & J. Pitts (Éds.), The FinTech Revolution : Bridging Geospatial Data Science, AI, and Sustainability (p. 35‑81). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-74418-1_2.
- Huang, Y., Liu, S., Gan, J., Liu, B., & Wu, Y. (2024). How does the construction of new generation of national AI innovative development pilot zones drive enterprise ESG development ? Empirical evidence from China. Energy Economics, 140. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2024.108011.
- Iyer, R., & Maralapalle, V. C. (2025). Integrating AI and ML technologies into indigenous financial systems : Applications of AI and ML in indigenous financial management. In Indig. Empower. Through hum.-mach. Interactions : The chall. And strateg. From bus. Lenses (p. 237‑251). Emerald Pub-lishing; Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83608-068-820251014
- Jarboui, A., Mnif, E., Akrout, Z., & Chakroun, S. (2025). Unveiling the drivers behind carbon emissions disclosure : An ESG perspective. Society and Business Review, 20(2), 276‑292. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1108/SBR-05-2024-0161
- Katterbauer, K., Castanho, R. A., Syed, H., Meyer, D., Cleenewerck, L., & Yılmaz Genç, S. (2024). Green Deep Seabed Mining : The Opportunities for Islamic Finance. WSEAS Transactions on Business and Economics, 21, 2736‑2746. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.37394/23207.2024.21.223
- Khan, F., Bartáková, G. P., Almadhor, A., Qayyum, A., Abeer, K., & Durrani, A. (2025). Evaluating the capacity and limitations of generative AI in financial decision making. Computer Standards and Interfaces, 93. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csi.2024.103965.
- Kotsantonis, S., Pinney, C., & Serafeim, G. (2016). ESG Integration in Investment Management : Myths and Realities. Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, 28(2), 10‑16. https://doi.org/10.1111/jacf.12169.
- Lǎzǎroiu, G., Bogdan, M., Geamănu, M., Hurloiu, L., Ionescu, L., & Ştefǎnescu, R. (2023). Artificial intelligence algorithms and cloud computing technologies in blockchain-based fintech management. Oeconomia Copernicana, 14(3), 707‑730. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.24136/oc.2023.021.
- Lee, O., Joo, H., Choi, H., & Cheon, M. (2022). Proposing an Integrated Approach to Analyzing ESG Data via Machine Learning and Deep Learn-ing Algorithms. Sustainability (Switzerland), 14(14). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148745.
- Lee, S. U., Fernando, N., Lee, K., & Schneider, J.-G. (2024). A survey of energy concerns for software engineering. Journal of Systems and Soft-ware, 210. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2023.111944.
- Li, T., Lau, W. T., & Dato Haji Yahya, M. H. (2025). Blockchain Applications in Green Finance for Transparency and Accountability in Sustainable Investments. Sustainability (Switzerland), 17(6). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062520.
- Lim, T. (2024a). Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and artificial intelligence in finance : State-of-the-art and research takeaways. Artificial Intelligence Review, 57(4). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10462-024-10708-3.
- Lim, T. (2024b). Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and artificial intelligence in finance : State-of-the-art and research takeaways. Artificial Intelligence Review, 57(4), 76. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10462-024-10708-3.
- Liu, L., Ma, Z., Zhou, Y., Fan, M., & Han, M. (2024). Trust in ESG reporting : The intelligent Veri-Green solution for incentivized verification. Blockchain: Research and Applications, 5(2). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcra.2024.100189.
- Liu, X., Ma, C., & Ren, Y.-S. (2024). How AI powers ESG performance in China’s digital frontier? Finance Research Letters, 70. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2024.106324.
- Ma, C.-Q., Liu, X., Klein, T., & Ren, Y.-S. (2025). Decoding the nexus : How fintech and AI stocks drive the future of sustainable finance. Interna-tional Review of Economics and Finance, 98. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2025.103877
- Maghsoudi, M., Kamrani Shahri, M., Agha Mohammad Ali Kermani, M., & Khanizad, R. (2025). Mapping the Landscape of AI-Driven Human Re-source Management : A Social Network Analysis of Research Collaboration. IEEE Access, 13, 3090‑3114. IEEE Access. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3523437.
- Mahajan, R., Kumar, S., Lim, W. M., & 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. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3712
- Mamun, A. Y., & László, V. (2025). Advancing sustainability through financial inclusion and sustainable finance : A systematic literature review. Digi-tal Finance. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42521-025-00142-7
- Manta, O., Vasile, V., & Rusu, E. (2025). Banking Transformation Through FinTech and the Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Payments. FinTech, 4(2). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/fintech4020013
- Mhlanga, D. (2022). Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence : The Superlative Approach to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Sustainability (Switzerland), 14(13). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137804.
- Minkkinen, M., Niukkanen, A., & Mäntymäki, M. (2024). What about investors ? ESG analyses as tools for ethics-based AI auditing. AI and Society, 39(1), 329‑343. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-022-01415-0
- Puschmann, T., & Khmarskyi, V. (2024). Green fintech : Developing a research agenda. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Man-agement, 31(4), 2823‑2837. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2675
- Rahman, A., & Amjad, F. (2024). The role of green finance, infrastructure, and technological capabilities in enhancing competitiveness resilience of Pakistani manufacturing firms : A sequential mediation–moderation analysis. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 26(12), 4289‑4304. Sco-pus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-024-02837-8.
- Saeedi, M., & Ashraf, B. N. (2024). The Role of Technology in Promoting Green Finance : A Systematic Literature Survey and the Development of a Framework. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 17(10). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm17100472.
- Saxena, A., Singh, R., Gehlot, A., Akram, S. V., Twala, B., Singh, A., Montero, E. C., & Priyadarshi, N. (2023). Technologies Empowered Environ-mental, Social, and Governance (ESG) : An Industry 4.0 Landscape. Sustainability, 15(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010309.
- Shkalenko, A. V., & Nazarenko, A. V. (2024). Integration of AI and IoT into Corporate Social Responsibility Strategies for Financial Risk Manage-ment and Sustainable Development. Risks, 12(6), 87. https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12060087.
- Si Mohammed, K., Serret, V., Ben Jabeur, S., & Nobanee, H. (2024). The role of artificial intelligence and fintech in promoting eco-friendly invest-ments and non-greenwashing practices in the US market. Journal of Environmental Management, 359. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120977
- Singhania, M., Chadha, G., & Prasad, R. (2024). Sustainable finance research : Review and agenda. International Journal of Finance and Econom-ics, 29(4), 4010‑4045. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijfe.2854
- Su, C.-W., & Qin, M. (2024). Unravelling Dynamics and Connectedness: Distinguishing the Influence of Sustainable Finance And Artificial Intelli-gence on Energy Sustainability in China. Buletin Ekonomi Moneter Dan Perbankan/Monetary and Banking Economics Bulletin, 27(4), 741‑766. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.59091/2460-9196.2418.
- Tian, B., Yu, J., & Gulzar, M. A. (2025). AI-Boosted ESG: transforming enterprise ESG performance through artificial intelligence. Applied Econom-ics. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2025.2517421.
- van der Heever, W., Satapathy, R., Park, J. M., & Cambria, E. (2024). Understanding Public Opinion towards ESG and Green Finance with the Use of Explainable Artificial Intelligence. Mathematics, 12(19). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/math12193119.
- Wang, J., Wen, Y., & Long, H. (2024). Evaluating the mechanism of AI contribution to decarbonization for sustainable manufacturing in China. Jour-nal of Cleaner Production, 472. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.143505.
- Xie, H., Qin, Z., & Li, J. (2024). Entrepreneurship and Corporate ESG Performance—A Case Study of China’s A-Share Listed Companies. Sustain-ability (Switzerland), 16(18). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16187964
- Xu, S., Zhong, M., & Wang, Y. (2024). Can innovative industrial clusters enhance urban economic resilience ? A quasi-natural experiment based on an innovative pilot policy. Energy Economics, 134. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2024.107544
- Yu, J., Lai, X., Sun, T., & Lin, C.-T. (2025). Could AI and Sustainable Finance Drive Energy Sustainability ? A Wavelet Quantile Correlation Analy-sis. Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, 61(14), 4512‑4526. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/1540496X.2025.2519414.
- Zhang, D. (2024). The pathway to curb greenwashing in sustainable growth : The role of artificial intelligence. Energy Economics, 133. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2024.107562.
- Zhou, X., Gao, Z., Xiong, J., & Sou, K. (2025). Integration of digitalization and green finance for sustainable and resilient manufacturing and service operations in China : An empirical analysis. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 13. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1604316.
-
Downloads
-
How to Cite
Omar , B. ., & Habiba, L.-K. . (2025). Artificial Intelligence in Sustainable Finance: Mapping ESG Integration and Risk Detection Frameworks. International Journal of Accounting and Economics Studies, 12(8), 878-886. https://doi.org/10.14419/166t8v12
