This study theoretically examines the concept of green leadership, which has developed based on principles of sustainability and environmental responsibility. Today's rapidly changing economic, social, and ecological dynamics necessitate redefining leadership. While traditional leadership approaches meet the needs of industrial society, a new sustainability-centered leadership model is needed in today's world, characterized by globalization, digitalization, and environmental crises. In this context, green leadership requires environmental awareness and a holistic management approach based on ethical values, social justice, innovation, and intergenerational responsibility. Green leadership has become an ethical choice and a strategic imperative for today's organizations. This approach contributes to achieving sustainable development goals at the institutional level by guiding leaders to balance economic success, environmental protection, and social welfare. The study highlights the growing importance of green leadership in academic and applied management literature.

This study examines the fundamental dynamics that shape green leadership under five headings: environmental crises, economic and market dynamics, societal expectations and consumer behavior, the international political and institutional framework, and the pressure for competition and innovation. These dynamics transform green leadership from a mere environmental orientation into a transformational tool that aligns with global environmental policies and integrates economic rationality and societal expectations. Furthermore, through theoretical foundations, the study explores the relationship between green leadership and the sustainability paradigm, its borrowings from classical leadership theories, and its place within the context of corporate social responsibility.