Impact of Urban Infrastructure Finance, ProEnvironmental Behaviour & Peer-to-Peer Electricity Trading for Sustainable Urban Communities

Abstract

Sustainable development is a strategic approach to making decisions that ensure the preservation and attainment of human well-being, today and in the future. The rapid growth of urban areas and community expansion bring significant challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and escalating energy demand. It is crucial to ponder feasible and sustainable solutions. Sustainable infrastructure requires extensive funding sources, consumer's pro-environmental behavior which is dependent upon how well they are informed about human-prone ecological degradation and prosumers’ trait of sharing a common renewable energy distribution system looks for regulation. This research explores the critical nexus between urban infrastructure finance, peer-to-peer electricity trading, and pro-environmental behavior in fostering sustainable communities. Utilizing a quantitative approach, the data from 296 residents of various urban communities was collected through a questionnaire and analyzed by implementing structural equation modeling using SmartPLS 4.0. The study examines the hypothetical relationship of urban infrastructure finance (UIF), pro-environmental behavior (PEB) and peer-to-peer electricity trading (P2PET), to optimize sustainable urban communities (SUC). In addition, the installation of energy-efficient systems (EES) is used as the mediator in the proposed model to augment the hypothetical relationships. This study pioneered the integration of these factors' impact and influence on sustainable urban communities in Pakistan. The findings indicate a significant and positive relationship of the independent variables UIF, PEB & P2PET along with the complimentary mediation of EESs, thereby exhibiting the strengthening impact on sustainable urban communities. This study demonstrates that green investments in urban infrastructure, eco-friendly practices in daily life, and community harmony in energy sharing are pivotal, consequently optimizing efficient energy distribution and utilization, supporting urban sustainability. The study promotes societal mobilization, effective policymaking, integration of human and environmental health, and increased electricity awareness among residents