From Vulnerability to Opportunity: Policy, Market, and Institutional Lessons for MENA’s Sustainability Future

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region stands at a critical crossroads in its transition towards sustainable development and net-zero emissions. This edited book brings together 13 chapters that collectively interrogate the interplay between sustainability governance, financial systems, corporate responsibility, and public policy frameworks. Drawing on diverse methodologies and disciplinary lenses, including economics, finance, environmental policy, and management, the book synthesizes empirical findings, theoretical perspectives, and practical insights to illuminate the institutional, structural, and behavioural dimensions of sustainability in MENA. The conclusion integrates contributions across four thematic domains. First, on climate governance and corporate performance, the chapters highlight how regulatory stringency, investor activism, and adaptive capacity shape corporate decarbonization and resilience. Second, on finance, markets, and sustainable development, the analysis underscores the double-edged role of financial systems: green finance and market innovation can catalyse sustainable growth; yet, weak standards risk greenwashing and instability. Third, on corporate governance and ESG integration, evidence demonstrates that board incentives, disclosure practices, and stakeholder engagement are decisive in embedding sustainability within firms. Fourth, on sectoral and regional transitions, the chapters reveal both the opportunities of diversification and foreign investment, and the challenges of dependency and fragmented governance. Collectively, the book advances scholarly debates and provides actionable guidance for policymakers, regulators, and business leaders. It argues that MENA’s sustainability future hinges on integrative governance, harmonized financial regulation, and inclusive institutional reform. The insights presented not only fill a critical gap in regional sustainability scholarship but also chart pathways for a just, resilient, and credible transition towards net-zero, with particular relevance for the upcoming UN COP 30 and beyond.