Professor Preeya S. Mohan

Publication/source: Discover Environment 4 (1), 532, 2026

Snippet: The global transition toward environmental sustainability requires a private sector reorientation, yet the economic implications of green innovation remain inconsistent across institutional landscapes. This study examines how green innovation and underlying managerial motivations associate with firm production efficiency within the climate-vulnerable context of Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Utilizing the 2020 Innovation, Firm Performance, and Gender dataset—a cross-sectional survey of 1979 enterprises across 13 Caribbean territories—the study employs Stochastic Frontier Analysis to estimate technical efficiency gap scores. Given the single-wave design collected during the COVID-19 pandemic shock, empirical findings are interpreted as exploratory baseline associations rather than definitive causal impacts. The results reveal a nuanced relationship: while general green innovation adoption is correlated with a technical efficiency penalty, innovations driven by environmental regulations and government financial incentives exhibit a significant positive statistical association with efficiency. Conversely, voluntary eco-innovations yield an efficiency penalty, while market-demand drivers display no significant relationship. These findings contribute to the Porter Hypothesis debate by demonstrating that green productivity offsets are not automatic in resource-constrained island economies. Instead, formal policy frameworks and financial de-risking mechanisms are essential for aligning environmental practices with operational productivity. Consequently, Caribbean governments should prioritize coordinated regulatory standards and targeted financial support to help private sector enterprises bridge the gap between sustainability and operational performance.

Publication/source: Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change 17 (1), e70042, 2026

Description / abstract: Recent research underscores the disproportionate burden of climate change on developing countries, often exacerbated by historical debt. The escalating debt crisis can hinder investments in climate adaptation and mitigation, while climate‐related disasters can further exacerbate debt burdens. By delving into the complex interplay between debt and climate change, this paper explores their historical intersection, examining how these interconnected issues have shaped global inequalities. It delves into the literature on the historical context of debt accumulation in developing countries, the role of international financial institutions, and subsequent efforts to address debt burdens. The concept of “climate debt”—the notion that developed nations bear a responsibility to developing countries for their historical emissions—is critically assessed. The paper further evaluates the potential of debt relief as a mechanism for …

Publication/source: Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 1-22, 2026

Description / abstract: The objective of this paper is to explore the potential of climate finance to support Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) efforts in achieving their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the Land use, Land use change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector. The methodology adopted was a content analysis of Caribbean countries’ NDCs, and two case studies of climate financing in two high forest low deforestation countries – Guyana and Suriname. The data used for the content analysis were obtained from initial and updated NDCs for 16 Caribbean SIDS, which were supplemented by country development plans, reports, and policy documents that address the issue of climate finance in LULUCF for the case studies. The findings show that Caribbean SIDS set ambitious mitigation and adaptation goals for their LULUCF sector but are heavily dependent on international climate finance which is not …

Publication/source: Discover Sustainability, 2026

Description / abstract: While generative AI is widely recognized for improving efficiency, limited research explains how it may relate to sustainability, particularly through the mechanisms that generate societal value. Existing studies often focus on either perceptions or high-level outcomes, with less attention to

Publication/source: West Indian Journal of Engineering, 79-88, 2026

Description / abstract: The steelpan is the national instrument and represents a unique confluence of cultural heritage and complex engineering in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). By harmonising sinking and standardisation through engineering protocols, this project ensures the long-term sustainability of the craft while positioning the steelpan as a scalable, globally competitive, high-quality industrial product of the nation. There is a need for T&T’s steelpan industry for a holistic evolution—one that preserves the artisan’s intent while ensuring technical precision—culminates in 5S (i.e., Steelpan Sinking, Standardisation, Sustainability, and Scaling) domains for national development. The need aligns with the priority research areas set by T&T Research and Development Impact (RDI) Fund at The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine Campus, to transform a craft-based cultural asset into a value-added, standardised manufacturing industry. This paper explores this to modernise T&T’s steelpan industry by integrating robotics, material science, and data-driven policy for national development. By consolidating desk research findings on sinking process and associated determinants of the steelpan production, a holistic framework is developed. A 5S project is initiated for RDI Fund application which is structured into three (3) integrated modules over a 36-month execution period. This paper presents the research agenda of 5S project that is composed of a three-phase action research methodology, a stakeholder engagement plan, a knowledge sharing and dissemination plan, a risk management plan, and a project implementation and monitoring plan. Several …