Exploring the role of technological innovation and renewable energy in environmental sustainability across Asian economies

Abstract Renewable energy (RE) technologies provide sustainable solutions to meet growing energy demand while reducing CO2 emissions. However, empirical evidence on the combined role of renewable energy and technological innovation (TI) in shaping environmental sustainability across Asian economies remains limited. This study examines the relationship between CO2 emissions, economic growth, renewable energy consumption (REC), TI, globalization, and natural resource rents across 33 Asian countries from 2000 to 2022. The study examines the validity of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis and the moderating role of TI in reducing environmental degradation. Using the Cross-Sectional Autoregressive Distributed Lag (CS-ARDL) approach, the analysis captures both short-run and long-run dynamics while accounting for cross-sectional dependence. The results show that economic growth initially increases CO2 emissions, followed by a decline at higher income levels, providing support for the EKC hypothesis. In addition, REC and TI significantly reduce CO2 emissions, whereas globalization is associated with higher emission levels. Policymakers should promote green innovation, reduce dependence on non-renewable energy sources, and support environmentally sustainable development strategies.