Implications of Innovative Strategies for Sustainable Entrepreneurship—Solutions to Combat Climate Change

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I read the article and have a few concerns: 

1. Lines 89-103 do not belong to the article, they are part of the explanation given to the authors by MDPI.

2. What is the originality brought by the article? What gap from the literature covers the paper? 

3. What are the research hypotheses? What are the research questions that the paper should answer? 

4. Which software version did you use? 

5. Table 2 does not provide information from a scientific point of view, it only shows the variables coded in the software used and the aggregation function. I suggest the authors to scrap this table and present in 1-2 sentences information about the aggregation function. 

6. Figure 2 is a graph. I suggest authors to export the graph from the software and then insert it in the article. 

7. The conclusion section is huge. I suggest the authors to reduce this section and put some of the text in the discussion area. 

8. What are the limitations of the conducted study? What about future research?

Author Response

1. Lines 89-103 do not belong to the article, they are part of the explanation given to the authors by MDPI. 

Thank you for your feedback. When we edited our text in the MDPI template, we neglected to delete those lines. We have now revised and removed those lines, which were part of the explanation provided by MDPI and did not belong in the text of our article.

2. What is the originality brought by the article? What gap from the literature covers the paper? 

The originality of this article lies in the fact that it explores how sustainable entrepreneurship can make a concrete contribution to tackling climate change, a topical and important but relatively unexplored issue from the perspective of innovative customized solutions. In the existing literature, most studies either approach sustainable entrepreneurship from a general perspective or investigate the impacts of climate change from purely economic or regulatory perspectives. The challenge identified in the literature lies at the intersection of these two areas: how entrepreneurs can develop sustainable and innovative solutions that are specifically tailored to climate issues. By identifying concrete and innovation-focused research directions, the article proposes a unique and applied approach that can guide both future research and practice in the field of green entrepreneurship. This explanation is in red in the Introduction.

3. What are the research hypotheses? What are the research questions that the paper should answer?

In our research research question is How can sustainable entrepreneurship contribute to combating climate change? This research question is present in the abstract, but also in the conclusion. We have highlighted it in yellow, from this question we started our research. The research aims to explore how sustainable entrepreneurship can generate effective solutions to combat climate change. Based on the literature review, we identified six influential factors that can significantly contribute to climate change mitigation: deployment of renewable energy sources (RES), investment in sustainable mobility (ISM); education and awareness (EA); stimulating sustainable agriculture (SSA); increasing energy efficiency (IEE); implementing a circular economy model (ICE).

Given the chosen methodology, namely fuzzy set comparative qualitative analysis (fsQCA), the paper does not test traditional hypotheses. Instead, we have formulated the research proposition that guides the investigation of causal configurations that may contribute to sustainable entrepreneurship as a means to combat climate change. The main aim is to identify combinations of factors that collectively lead to sustainable outcomes, rather than to test simple cause-effect relationships. In the context of this research, we have focused on identifying and analyzing causal configurations that demonstrate how the interactions between these factors contribute to combating climate change. Thus, our research aims to answer this research question by exploring how each of these conditions collectively influences outcomes in terms of entrepreneurial sustainability and environmental impact. Through the fsQCA method, the research examines the combinations of factors identified from the literature that can significantly contribute to climate change mitigation and suggests that entrepreneurs can adopt integrated approaches to maximize positive environmental impacts. Thus, research proposition: the multiple causal configurations of these antecedent conditions (IRE, ISM, EA, SSA, IEE, ICE) show a significant influence on climate change mitigation (CCC). We have added further explanations in our paper, changes are written in red in the methodology section.

4. Which software version did you use? 

We omitted to mention the version used, which is the latest version of the fsQCA software, version 4.1. We have also mentioned this in the article.

5. Table 2 does not provide information from a scientific point of view, it only shows the variables coded in the software used and the aggregation function. I suggest the authors to scrap this table and present in 1-2 sentences information about the aggregation function. 

Thank you for your feedback on Table 2. Data calibration. After reviewing the comment, we have decided to remove this table as it did not add scientific value and was limited to coding the variables used in our analysis. We have included a brief description of the calibration function used, highlighted in yellow in the paper. Thus, the variables were calibrated using the calibrated method with the specified parameters (5, 3, 1), and the aggregation of the variables was performed by the fuzzyand function. This allowed us to assess the interactions among the relevant variables (IRE, ISM, EA, SSA, IEE, ICE, CCC) and to identify causal configurations that are significant for combating climate change.

6. Figure 2 is a graph. I suggest authors to export the graph from the software and then insert it in the article. 

Thank you for your comments on Figure 2. I want to emphasize that the graph generated by the fsQCA software has a complex structure that includes a detailed analysis of the cases according to the explanatory variables. Unfortunately, Excel cannot accurately reproduce this type of graph, given the specific nature of the data and the relationships between variables. I would like to use the graph exported directly from the fsQCA, as it accurately reflects the analysis performed and can provide an accurate representation of the influence of the six antecedent conditions on the climate change phenomenon.

If necessary, I can create a simplified graph in Excel that illustrates the main trends, but I would like to mention that this will not capture the complexity of the original analysis. fsQCA generates complex outputs, such as configurational case analysis, which may not be easily replicated in Excel. Excel is not designed to handle multiple condition set type data and complex relationships between variables. 

7. The conclusion section is huge. I suggest the authors to reduce this section and put some of the text in the discussion area. 

Thank you for your suggestion. We have revised the conclusion section and shortened it significantly, moving some of the content to the discussion section. We believe this change improves the structure and clarity of the paper.

8. What are the limitations of the conducted study? What about future research?

Thank you for your feedback. We have indicated the limitations of the study and future research directions. These are written in red in the article.

Limitations of the study

Our study, while making significant contributions to the field of research, has certain limitations that are worth discussing. Firstly, focusing on a single study context may limit the generalisability of the results. Whilst the findings are relevant to the specific population under investigation, it is essential that future research examines the same variables in different contexts to assess their applicability in diverse settings. Another aspect to consider is the temporal variability of the data. Collecting data in a specific time period may mean that the results reflect unique conditions and contexts, and external events, such as economic crises or social changes, may influence participants' perceptions and behaviours. Therefore, similar studies conducted in different periods could make a valuable contribution to understanding the evolution of these variables over time. Another important factor is the participants' level of attention when completing the questionnaires. Variability in participants' mood or level of concentration may influence the answers given. Future research could therefore benefit from data collection methods that minimise the influence of these issues, such as semi-structured interviews or direct observation. In conclusion, although our study provides valuable insights, recognising these limitations is essential for an accurate interpretation of the results. Addressing these issues in future research could contribute to a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon under investigation.

Future research directions

Having identified the limitations of the study, we have outlined several promising directions for future research. First, broadening the study contexts is essential to test the generalisability of the results. Future research could analyse innovative sustainable entrepreneurship strategies in varied geographical, cultural and economic contexts, thus providing a better understanding of the applicability of these strategies internationally.

Second, adopting a longitudinal perspective would make a significant contribution by investigating the temporal variability of the data. Studies conducted over extended periods of time could observe the evolution of perceptions and sustainable entrepreneurial strategies in relation to contextual, economic or environmental changes. Another valuable research direction is the development and validation of more complex measurement tools that capture the nuances of the variables under investigation. These tools should include more dimensions of sustainable entrepreneurship and assess in detail the environmental and societal impacts of innovative strategies. Diversification of research methods is also an important direction. The use of semi-structured interviews, case studies or direct observations could minimise the influence of participants' mood or focus variables, providing detailed qualitative data and a deep understanding of the phenomenon under investigation. Finally, exploring the impact of major contextual changes, such as economic crises or social changes, could reveal how these events influence sustainable entrepreneurship as a measure to combat climate change. Comparative studies before and after such events could reveal their effects on entrepreneurial decisions and behaviour. These research directions provide a framework for deepening the understanding of sustainable entrepreneurship and its impact on climate change mitigation, supporting the development of innovative and applicable strategies in diverse settings.

Thank you sincerely for your recommendations in improving this article. Your detailed appreciation and valuable suggestions helped me to improve my paper considerably. Thank you for your involvement and patience.

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

At the outset, I state that this is a scientific work that has a definite potential to be valuable and beneficial. However, it is necessary to work on it considerably, so that it meets the requirements not only of the publishing house MDPI for its publication. Please read again very carefully the guidelines for authors published on the journal's website.

The abstract is not the initial introduction. It must be clear and concise, and must contain key information about the manuscript in an unchanging order. Objective, material, used scientific research methods, results, or scientific contribution.

The introduction is very long and very general. It is necessary to supplement it especially with the reason and need for writing this scientific study. Also, according to the instructions for the authors, it should contain established research questions and/or hypotheses to which there would be a clear answer in the discussion or in the conclusion.

The second chapter starting on page 2, which is however unnecessarily long, I recommend, in order to increase the scientific value of the work, to strengthen it with the ideas of other authors dealing with the legislative side of the investigated problem. Do not forget that the legislation always determines the boundaries. These are scientific articles:

Pertáček Tomáš, Majerčáková Daniela and Alexandra Mittelman. (2016). The Constitutional Protection of  Water as   irreplaceable Component of Enviroment and all Living Ecosystem in the Conditions of the Slovak Republic. In Proceedings of the 16th International Multidisciplinary Scientific Geoconference (SGEM 2016), Albena, Bulgaria, 30 June–6 July 2016; 

Lazíková, Jarmila and Rumanovská, Ľubica. 2024. Waste in the EU Law. Juridical Tribune - Review of Comparative and International Law, 14(2), pp. 260–285, doi: 10.62768/TBJ/2024/14/2/06

Despite the fact that the Third Chapter is very well prepared and represents probably the most valuable part of the manuscript, I recommend to supplement it with applied scientific research methods. Both quantitatively and qualitatively, it is very appropriate to describe and characterize. It would also be appropriate to justify their meaning of use for individual parts of the manuscript. However, do not forget the inherent need for such methods as analysis, synthesis, deduction, comparison, induction.

As I mentioned before, do not forget to answer the stated research questions and/or hypotheses in the discussion or conclusion. Considering the scope of your study, I recommend expanding it by a few sentences about the direction of your possible further research or the limits of this study.

At the end, just a small technical note. When citing used works in the text, numbering in square brackets is used.

Author Response

Comments 1: At the outset, I state that this is a scientific work that has a definite potential to be valuable and beneficial. However, it is necessary to work on it considerably, so that it meets the requirements not only of the publishing house MDPI for its publication. Please read again very carefully the guidelines for authors published on the journal's website. The abstract is not the initial introduction. It must be clear and concise, and must contain key information about the manuscript in an unchanging order. Objective, material, used scientific research methods, results, or scientific contribution.

Response 1: Thank you for your feedback. We have revised the abstract of the paper to ensure that it is clear and concise, following the recommended order: objective, materials, scientific methods used, results and scientific contribution. This change will facilitate a better understanding of the manuscript.

Comments 2: The introduction is very long and very general. It is necessary to supplement it especially with the reason and need for writing this scientific study. Also, according to the instructions for the authors, it should contain established research questions and/or hypotheses to which there would be a clear answer in the discussion or in the conclusion.

Response 2: 

Thank you for your feedback on the introduction to the paper. We have revised the text and made it more concise and specific, clearly adding the reasons and the need for writing this scientific study. We also included the research question to provide a clear framework to be addressed in the discussion and conclusions. New changes are written in red.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century, with devastating effects on the global environment, economy and society. In this context, the role of sustainable entrepreneurship becomes crucial, offering innovative solutions that contribute to reducing carbon emissions and promoting environmentally responsible practices. This research aims to explore the innovative strategies that entrepreneurs can adopt to help combat climate change, emphasising the importance of a sustainable approach to business and justifying the need for an in-depth study on this topic. We started our research from the question How can sustainable entrepreneurship contribute to combating climate change? By addressing this question, the research contributes to the understanding of how sustainable entrepreneurship can be an innovative and viable solution to climate change, providing both theoretical insights and practical examples. The study aims to highlight not only the economic benefits of sustainable initiatives, but also their social and environmental impacts, emphasising the critical role of entrepreneurs in the transition to a green economy.

Comments 3: The second chapter starting on page 2, which is however unnecessarily long, I recommend, in order to increase the scientific value of the work, to strengthen it with the ideas of other authors dealing with the legislative side of the investigated problem. Do not forget that the legislation always determines the boundaries. These are scientific articles:

Pertáček Tomáš, Majerčáková Daniela and Alexandra Mittelman. (2016). The Constitutional Protection of  Water as   irreplaceable Component of Enviroment and all Living Ecosystem in the Conditions of the Slovak Republic. In Proceedings of the 16th International Multidisciplinary Scientific Geoconference (SGEM 2016), Albena, Bulgaria, 30 June–6 July 2016; 

Lazíková, Jarmila and Rumanovská, Ľubica. 2024. Waste in the EU Law. Juridical Tribune - Review of Comparative and International Law, 14(2), pp. 260–285, doi: 10.62768/TBJ/2024/14/2/06

Response 3: Thank you for your comments on chapter two. We have revised this section to make it more concise and to enhance its scholarly value by integrating the ideas of other authors analysing the legislative side of the problem under investigation. We have also included suggested references to emphasise the importance of the legislation in this context. All changes are written in red.

Sustainable entrepreneurship is closely linked to the legislative framework, which determines both the limits and the directions of development of sustainable initiatives.The European legislation on natural resource and waste management, as detailed by Lazíková and Rumanovská (2024), creates a strict framework that requires entrepreneurs to adapt their practices to comply with environmental regulations. These rules not only impose limits, but also open up new opportunities for entrepreneurs developing sustainable solutions, turning legislative challenges into competitive advantages. Such regulations require contractors to comply with strict environmental standards, which can limit certain economic activities but can also stimulate innovation in resource efficiency. Environmental legislation, such as the constitutional protection of water resources in Slovakia discussed by Pertáček et al. (2016), is an example of how national regulations can set a high standard for the protection of natural resources necessary for healthy ecosystems. Within this framework, sustainable entrepreneurship is forced to operate within well-defined boundaries, which can incentivise innovation in resource efficiency.  These laws thus create a favourable environment for innovative businesses that prioritise sustainability.

Comments 4: Despite the fact that the Third Chapter is very well prepared and represents probably the most valuable part of the manuscript, I recommend to supplement it with applied scientific research methods. Both quantitatively and qualitatively, it is very appropriate to describe and characterize. It would also be appropriate to justify their meaning of use for individual parts of the manuscript. However, do not forget the inherent need for such methods as analysis, synthesis, deduction, comparison, induction.

Response 4: Thank you for your constructive comments on chapter three of our paper. We have integrated your suggestions to enhance its scientific rigour.

Regarding the use of the fsQCA method, we chose this software because of its ability to analyse complex relationships between the variables under study, thus providing a detailed understanding of innovative strategies in sustainable entrepreneurship. This method allows the combination of qualitative and quantitative data, which is essential for the multifaceted approach to climate change. The fsQCA method allows analysing complex relationships between the variables under study. Due to its ability to combine qualitative and quantitative data, this method has proven essential for a better understanding of innovative strategies in sustainable entrepreneurship and their impact on tackling climate change. fsQCA is known for its ability to identify combinations of factors (or variables) that are 'necessary' or 'sufficient' for specific outcomes. This is essential for research involving complex variables and non-linear relationships, such as innovative strategies in sustainable entrepreneurship. fsQCA is well suited for studies where it is important to determine which combinations of conditions lead to particular outcomes. In the context of climate challenges, the method can contribute to the formulation of effective solutions by identifying those combinations of strategic factors that have proven to be effective in real-world contexts. Analytical methods such as analysis, synthesis, inference, comparison and induction are complementary to the use of fsQCA and contribute to the validation and contextualisation of the results obtained. Analysis allows for detailed preparation and evaluation of variables, synthesis facilitates the integration of results into the existing theoretical context, and inference helps to apply the findings to specific cases. Comparison supports the identification of essential configurations, and induction allows the development of new hypotheses and research directions, thus amplifying the relevance and methodological robustness of our study.

Comments 5: As I mentioned before, do not forget to answer the stated research questions and/or hypotheses in the discussion or conclusion. Considering the scope of your study, I recommend expanding it by a few sentences about the direction of your possible further research or the limits of this study.

Response 5: Thank you for your comments on the wording of the research proposition and expanding the discussion about the limitations of the study and directions for future research. I have revised the Conclusions chapter to ensure a clear and concise response to the stated research proposition, highlighting how the results obtained from the fsQCA analysis support this formulation. We have detailed the implications of the results in the context of the research question, showing how innovative strategies contribute to sustainable entrepreneurship and climate change. I also present the limitations of the study, addressing issues that might influence the generalisability of the findings. In addition, we add some ideas that highlight possible directions for future research, suggesting studies that could further explore the interactions between different configurations of innovative strategies and their impact on sustainable development.

Thank you sincerely for your recommendations in improving this article. Your detailed appreciation and valuable suggestions helped me to improve my paper considerably. Thank you for your involvement and patience.

 

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

 Through the research you have conducted, you aim to answer the question "How can sustainable entrepreneurship contribute to combating climate change?" By identifying solutions, you are trying to facilitate the implementation of sustainable practices, thus contributing to the creation of a favorable framework for green initiatives.

In my opinion, in order to frame the research within current studies, it is necessary to make more references to research results from the last five years in the discussion section. This would also be necessary in the conclusions section.

 

In addition, the abstract refers to a specific country, but there is no mention of this country in the main text. The rationale for this mention in the abstract should be clearly reflected or substantiated in the body of the paper.

 

With kind regards,

A reviewer

Author Response

Comments 1: Through the research you have conducted, you aim to answer the question "How can sustainable entrepreneurship contribute to combating climate change?" By identifying solutions, you are trying to facilitate the implementation of sustainable practices, thus contributing to the creation of a favorable framework for green initiatives. In my opinion, in order to frame the research within current studies, it is necessary to make more references to research results from the last five years in the discussion section. This would also be necessary in the conclusions section.

Response 1: Thank you for your feedback. We have taken your suggestion on board and integrated several recent references in the discussion section and in the conclusions. We surveyed and cited several new articles published in the last five years to provide an up-to-date and relevant perspective on the research. All changes are written in red in the article. 

Among the recent articles analysed and considered relevant for this research, we mention the following sources used as references:

Matos, S., Viardot, E., Sovacool, B. K., Geels, F. W., & Xiong, Y. (2022). Innovation and climate change: A review and introduction to the special issue. Technovation, 117, 102612.

Wu, Y., Gu, F., Ji, Y., Guo, J., & Fan, Y. (2020). Technological capability, eco-innovation performance, and cooperative R&D strategy in new energy vehicle industry: Evidence from listed companies in China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 261, 121157.

Lee, W. J., & Mwebaza, R. (2021). Digitalization to achieve technology innovation in climate technology transfer. Sustainability, 14(1), 63.

Mehta, A. K., Wadhwa, G., Shukla, R., Chandel, P. S., & Selvakumar, P. (2024). Opportunities for Green Entrepreneurship. In Examining Green Human Resources Management and Nascent Entrepreneurship (pp. 223-248). IGI Global.

Weis, L., & Nikolić, G. (2024). Discussing the Role of Innovation in Green Entrepreneurship and Development. In Entrepreneurship and Development for a Green Resilient Economy (pp. 1-21). Emerald Publishing Limited.

Mendes, A. C., Ferreira, F. A., Kannan, D., Ferreira, N. C., & Correia, R. J. (2022). A BWM approach to determinants of sustainable entrepreneurship in small and medium-sized enterprises. Journal of cleaner production, 371, 133300.

MUÑOZ ROMÁN, P. A., & Cohen, B. (2018). Sustainable Entrepreneurship Research: Taking Stock and looking ahead.

Urbaniec, M., Sołtysik, M., Prusak, A., Kułakowski, K., & Wojnarowska, M. (2022). Fostering sustainable entrepreneurship by business strategies: An explorative approach in the bioeconomy. Business Strategy and the Environment, 31(1), 251-267.

Anand, A., Argade, P., Barkemeyer, R., & Salignac, F. (2021). Trends and patterns in sustainable entrepreneurship research: A bibliometric review and research agenda. Journal of Business Venturing, 36(3), 106092.

Terán-Yépez, E., Marín-Carrillo, G. M., del Pilar Casado-Belmonte, M., & de las Mercedes Capobianco-Uriarte, M. (2020). Sustainable entrepreneurship: Review of its evolution and new trends. Journal of Cleaner Production, 252, 119742.

Comments 2: In addition, the abstract refers to a specific country, but there is no mention of this country in the main text. The rationale for this mention in the abstract should be clearly reflected or substantiated in the body of the paper.

Response 2: Thank you for your feedback. Our study focuses on Romania. We have included this in both the abstract and the content of the paper. We have also revised the structure of the paper to ensure that there is a rigorous correlation between the abstract and the content so that it coherently reflects the research objectives and conclusions.

Thank you sincerely for your recommendations in improving this article. Your detailed appreciation and valuable suggestions helped me to improve my paper considerably. Thank you for your involvement and patience.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper can be accepted in the present form.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

After a thorough review of your revised and supplemented manuscript, I can only unequivocally agree to its publication.

Best regards, Reviewer