This edited volume, stemming from scholarly debate at the 1st International Conference on Sustainable Finance at Lusíada University, brings together interdisciplinary experts to critically examine the regulatory, behavioral, and market-based dimensions of greenwashing and sustainable finance. It unpacks the regulatory frameworks, exposes the realities of greenwashing, and explores the financial sector’s role in shaping a resilient, sustainable future. Part I explores how EU institutions and central banks are laying the groundwork for sustainable finance and how policy is evolving to combat misleading environmental claims. Part II reveals the narratives and facts behind greenwashing in European financial markets—backed by real-world cases and regional data. Part III examines the intersection of ESG, earnings management, green bonds, and crisis resilience. With contributions from leading researchers and policy experts, this book is essential reading for academics, regulators, financial professionals, and anyone seeking clarity in the complex world of sustainable finance.

Isabel Cantista is Dean of the School of Economics and Business Studies at Lusíada University (campi of Porto and Famalicão) and a Visiting Professor at the Post-graduate School at the University of Navarra, in Madrid. Isabel leads the research group on Circular Economy, Sustainability and Entrepreneurship at COMEGI Research Centre on Organisations, Markets and Industrial Engineering at Lusíada University. 

Mara Madaleno is currently the coordinator and member of the research unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies (GOVCOPP). As an Associate Professor with Habilitation at UA’s Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism (DEGEIT), she teaches finance and economics across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs.