The parallel mediation role of social entrepreneurship orientation in the nexus between climate change awareness and green entrepreneurial intention: a hybrid PLS-SEM-NCA approach

Abstract

This study investigates how climate change awareness influences green entrepreneurial intention within a developing country context, with a focus on the parallel mediation role of social entrepreneurship orientation (SEO). Empirical data were collected from 426 students across three Ghanaian universities who were actively involved in social enterprise initiatives or had previously launched such ventures. The study employs Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypothesised relationships and Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) to identify necessary (but not sufficient) conditions for green entrepreneurial intention (GEI). The PLS-SEM results show that climate change knowledge (CCK) is significantly and positively associated with green entrepreneurial intention. This relationship is partially mediated by the social risk-taking (SRT) and social proactiveness (SP) dimensions of SEO. Although attitude towards climate change (ACC) shows a positive association with GEI, the effect was statistically insignificant. Furthermore, CCK demonstrates a strong, significant correlation with all four dimensions of SEO, suggesting its foundational role in shaping socially oriented entrepreneurial tendencies. Attitude towards climate change shows a negative association with SEO components, except for social innovativeness (SI), which has an insignificant positive association with ACC. NCA reveals that apart from social risk-taking, the other dimensions of SEO (socialness, social innovativeness and social proactiveness) serve as necessary conditions for green entrepreneurial intention. Climate change knowledge emerges as both necessary and sufficient condition for green entrepreneurial intention, showcasing its crucial role in fostering sustainable enterprises among university students in Ghana. The practical implications of the study suggest that local ecosystem stakeholders should strategically invest in climate change education within higher education institutions to promote environmental stewardship. The study contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). This study is among the first to empirically examine the parallel mediation pathways of SEO dimensions between climate change awareness and green entrepreneurial intention in university students, employing a novel hybrid PLS-SEM-NCA approach in an emerging economy setting.