ESG IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PILLAR (2020–2025): STATE OF THE ART AND FUTURE TRENDS

Abstract

The incorporation of the environmental pillar of ESG into public administration has progressed unevenly at the global level, despite the growing institutional recognition of governmental sustainability. This study presents a systematic literature review (SLR), conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 protocol, aiming to map dimensions, indicators, methodologies, and trends related to the adoption of environmental ESG in the public sector. A total of 1,273 publications were retrieved from the Scopus, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore databases (2020–2025), of which 1,006 were considered eligible after screening using the Rayyan platform. Bibliometric analysis, performed using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny, identified thematic clusters related to sustainable public procurement, green infrastructure, energy efficiency, environmental governance, and climate policies. The bibliographic analysis of 69 selected articles, organized into three thematic dimensions, revealed advances in the use of environmental indicators, composite frameworks (such as DPSIR and IPEEI), and innovative urban management practices. However, persistent challenges remain, including methodological standardization, the absence of robust regulatory frameworks, institutional gaps, and limited intersectoral integration, particularly in Latin American countries. This study proposes a research agenda focused on the development of integrated ESG assessment frameworks applicable to municipal management, with an emphasis on public engineering companies and urban infrastructure projects. The findings contribute to advancing discussions on governmental sustainability and to consolidating environmental ESG practices in the public sector. Overall, the results indicate a predominance of territorially oriented environmental indicators, a gap in the use of metrics applicable to public policies, and weak integration between ESG and urban governance.