The Impact of Ethical Leadership on Employee Green Behaviors: A Study on Academic Institutions in the UAE

This study explores the role of ethical leadership in fostering employee green behaviors (EGBs) within higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UAE. While environmental initiatives are increasingly being integrated into university operations, limited empirical research has examined how leadership styles influence pro-environmental behaviors among academic staff. Using a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design, the study surveyed 105 HEI employees and conducted in-depth interviews with 6 participants. The quantitative findings reveal a moderate but significant positive correlation between ethical leadership (EL) and EGB (ρ = 0.314, p < 0.001). Reliability scores for both EL (α = 0.888) and EGB (α = 0.754) confirmed the internal consistency of the used measurement items. The qualitative insights support the theoretical foundation drawn from Social Learning Theory, Value–Belief–Norm Theory, and Environmental Stewardship Theory. Employees reported modeling their green behaviors on observable leadership actions aligning with their shared moral values. A key distinction emerged between authentic and performative green behaviors, with employees responding more positively to leaders who modeled consistency and sincerity. The study concludes that ethical leadership significantly influences the environmental culture in HEIs by embedding sustainability into daily practices and institutional values. This research fills a regional and theoretical gap by contextualizing ethical leadership in the Middle Eastern academic setting and offering practical implications for leadership development, policy alignment, and cultural transformation towards sustainability.