Purpose This study investigates the impact of Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) practices on the environmental performance (EP) of Iraq's energy-intensive public sector industries, with a particular focus on the mediating role of energy-saving behaviour. The research addresses a critical gap in understanding how internal HR capabilities contribute to sustainability outcomes in developing countries. Design/methodology/approach Grounded in the Resource-Based View (RBV) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study conceptualizes GHRM as comprising green recruitment, training, performance appraisal, selection, and rewards. Primary data were collected from 385 middle managers in Iraq's oil, gas, and manufacturing sectors. Smart PLS 4.0 was employed to assess measurement and structural models. Findings The findings reveal that GHRM practices have a significant impact on enhancing environmental performance. Furthermore, energy-saving behaviour partially mediates the relationship between GHRM and environmental performance, indicating that behavioural change is a key pathway through which HR practices can yield environmental benefits. Practical implications This study offers actionable insights for policymakers and HR practitioners in pollution-intensive public sectors. Embedding green HRM strategies can drive sustainable workplace behaviours and improve overall environmental outcomes. Social implications By demonstrating the behavioural mechanisms linking HR practices to environmental impact, the study supports the integration of sustainability into institutional HRM policies in developing economies facing environmental challenges. Originality/value This research contributes to the limited empirical literature on green HRM in energy-intensive public sector organisations in developing countries. By identifying energy-saving behaviour as a key mediating mechanism, the study demonstrates how HR-based organisational capabilities translate into measurable environmental performance improvements.
Sahan et al. (Mon,) studied this question.