Empowered to Go Green: How Environmental Leadership and Organizational Culture Transform Employee Behavior

In today’s corporate environment, employees’ proactive engagement in environmental behaviors is crucial for the effective implementation of corporate environmental regulations. Leadership is crucial in motivating such behaviors. This study, grounded in self-determination theory, explores how Environmental Responsible Leadership enhances employees’ Organizational Citizenship Behavior for the Environment through Psychological Empowerment. Additionally, we analyze the moderating role of Green Culture. Using a multi-wave survey design, data were collected from 262 corporate employees in China via the Credamo platform and analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM) with AMOS 24.0 and hierarchical regression analysis with SPSS 26.0. The results reveal that Environmental Responsible Leadership significantly promotes the enhancement in Organizational Citizenship Behavior for the Environment. Psychological Empowerment serves as a significant mediator in this relationship, while Green Culture, as a supportive organizational context, amplifies the positive effects of Environmental Responsible Leadership on employees’ environmental behaviors. By elucidating the mechanisms and boundary conditions of Environmental Responsible Leadership, this study provides practical insights for organizations seeking to advance ecological conservation through leadership development and cultural nurturing.