A Bibliometric Analysis of Sustainability Communication Research (2000–2026)

Abstract

Sustainability communication is a strategic communication approach that aims to raise awareness of environmental, social, and economic issues and enhance public engagement in line with sustainable development goals. Particularly since 2020, it has gained increasing importance as the climate crisis, environmental issues, and the Sustainable Development Goals have become more prominent. This study aims to reveal the overall structure of the sustainability communication literature and identify potential directions for future research. Accordingly, we conducted a bibliometric analysis using data retrieved from the Web of Science database and analysed them using the bibliometrix package and the Biblioshiny interface in the R environment. The analysis included 581 documents published between 2000 and 2026. The findings indicate that sustainability communication has evolved into a rapidly growing field of research. The literature is structured around core knowledge sources, leading authors, and interconnected research communities, while also exhibiting an interdisciplinary thematic structure. Furthermore, the findings reveal that the research agenda has become increasingly diversified in recent years. Taken together, these findings provide a comprehensive picture of the field’s evolution, intellectual structure, and thematic transformation.