چكيده لاتين
Sustainability in the banking industry is not only an ethical responsibility but also an economic necessity. By integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting considerations into their operations, banks can contribute to risk mitigation, creation of new opportunities, and credibility enhancement, thereby supporting sustainable development. Given the growing importance of sustainability in the international and regional arenas, addressing this issue in Iraqi banks is of particular significance. This study aims to design a model and prioritize the factors affecting ESG reporting in Iraqi banks.
This research was conducted using a mixed-methods approach (qualitative-quantitative). In the qualitative phase, data were collected through in-depth interviews with 28 experts, including bank managers and academic faculty members from Iraqi universities (specializing in banking and environmental affairs) in 2024, and analyzed using the Grounded Theory method. In the quantitative phase, data were collected via questionnaires and surveys distributed to banking specialists in 2025 and analyzed using the Friedman test.
The findings revealed that the development of ESG reporting in Iraqi banks, as the core category, is influenced by a set of causal, contextual, and intervening factors. Causal factors include environmental pressures, environmental requirements, characteristics of the international environment, political characteristics of the country, and environmental incentives. Contextual factors encompass the structure of the Iraqi banking industry, organizational culture of banks, level of sustainability awareness, and corporate governance system. Intervening factors include the role of the Central Bank of Iraq, government support, training and capacity building, and international standards. Furthermore, key strategies for developing sustainability reporting in Iraqi banks were identified, including formulating reporting guidelines, establishing sustainability management systems, providing specialized training, and cooperating with international organizations. The consequences of implementing sustainability reporting in the Iraqi banking industry include increased transparency and stakeholder trust, improved financial and non-financial performance of banks, attraction of international investors, and sustainable development of the Iraqi banking sector. Additionally, prioritizing the factors affecting ESG reporting in Iraqi banks showed that three components—characteristics of the international environment, environmental requirements, and environmental pressures—have higher priority compared to other factors.
By presenting a comprehensive conceptual model, this research contributes to a better understanding of the dimensions of sustainability reporting in the Iraqi banking industry and can serve as a basis for policymaking and practical actions in this field.
