Investigate the role of technology innovation and renewable energy in reducing transport sector <scp>CO₂</scp> emission in China: A path toward sustainable development

TLDR

The study investigates how economic growth, technology innovation, and renewable energy affect transport‑sector CO₂ emissions in China and recommends policy to promote innovation. Using annual data from 1990–2018, the authors applied a QARDL approach to analyze the relationships. Results show that renewable energy consumption and technological innovation reduce transport‑sector CO₂ emissions, while higher GDP increases them, indicating that boosting renewable energy and innovation can lower emissions.

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this research is to examine the role of economic growth, technology innovation, and renewable energy in reducing transport sector CO 2 emission in China by using the annual data of 1990–2018. An application of the QARDL approach discloses that economic growth, technology innovation, and renewable energy significantly influence CO 2 emission in the transportation sector in China. Both renewable energy consumption and innovation show a negative impact on emissions of CO 2 related to transport. It depicts that due to the increase in renewable energy and innovation, the CO 2 emission in the transport sector is likely to decrease; however, an increase in the GDP of a country will upsurge the emission of CO 2 in the transportation sector. However, China should make new policies to introduce innovation in the transportation sector to minimize the emission of CO 2 .