Exploring the Nexus of Board Members’ Influence on Pro-Environmental Behavior and Environmental Performance in the Face of Organizational Silence

Despite the presence of several national and international strategic plans, the world continues to face the severe consequences of climate change. A major barrier to effective environmental policy performance is the lack of pro-environmental behavior and the presence of organizational silence within institutions. This study, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 (climate action), examines the role of institutional pressure in fostering pro-environmental behavior and, consequently, improving environmental performance. Furthermore, the study examines how organizational silence impacts the development of pro-environmental behavior and its subsequent impact on environmental policy performance. An established questionnaire was utilized to collect data from 324 public managers at the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority and the Ministry of Climate Change of Pakistan. This closely aligns with SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy). The analysis was conducted using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results show that institutional pressure has a positive impact on pro-environmental behavior (β = .45, p  < .001), which also enhances environmental performance (β = .38, p  < .001). It has a positive influence on pro-environmental behavior, which mediates between institutional pressure and environmental performance (β = .298, p  = 0). Furthermore, organizational silence has adverse moderation effects on institutional pressure and pro-environmental behavior (β = −.042, p  = .041). These findings provide practical insights for policymakers and institutions working to bolster climate resilience, strengthen policy execution, and support global sustainability initiatives by aligning with important SDGs.