Abstract

This study explores the critical intersection of ethical corporate governance and climate change, aiming to understand how governance frameworks can incorporate ethical considerations to address environmental challenges effectively. Employing a systematic literature review and content analysis, the research scrutinizes peer-reviewed articles, conference proceedings, and authoritative reports published from 2010 to 2024. The methodology focuses on identifying, coding, and categorizing themes related to the integration of ethical principles in corporate governance and their impact on climate change mitigation. Key findings reveal that ethical corporate governance plays a pivotal role in guiding corporations towards sustainable practices. Ethical theories, including deontological ethics, consequentialist ethics, and virtue ethics, underpin decision-making processes that prioritize environmental stewardship and social responsibility. The study highlights the necessity for governance structures to evolve beyond traditional profit maximization, advocating for transparency, accountability, and stakeholder engagement in addressing climate change. The future of corporate governance is envisioned as a dynamic framework that navigates ethical challenges in a changing climate, fostering innovation and collaboration. Strategic recommendations are provided for boards, executives, and policymakers to enhance ethical governance, emphasizing the importance of embedding environmental ethics into corporate culture and supporting policy initiatives that promote sustainability. Finally, the study underscores the imperative of integrating ethical considerations into corporate governance as a means to combat climate change, calling for further research to develop empirical evidence supporting the effectiveness of these practices.