<p>This study investigates the relationship between global power and environmental sustainability, emphasizing the role of the global power index (GPI) in shaping ecological outcomes. Using panel data from 26 countries between 1981 and 2021, we employ cross-sectional augmented autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) and dynamic common correlated effects (DCCE) estimators to analyze the impact of GPI, GDP per capita, carbon emissions per GDP, and urbanization rates on the load capacity factor (LCF), an indicator of environmental sustainability. Our findings reveal a complex, nonlinear relationship. Economic growth initially leads to environmental degradation, consistent with the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis, but higher income levels eventually improve sustainability. However, high carbon emissions per GDP and rapid urbanization negatively affect LCF, particularly in countries with weaker environmental governance. The influence of GPI varies by context, showing both positive and negative effects depending on governance quality and policy effectiveness. These results underscore the need for targeted policies that balance economic growth with environmental protection. Strong governance, investment in renewable energy, and international cooperation are essential for leveraging global power to support sustainability rather than exacerbate environmental challenges. Our study contributes to the literature by integrating political power dynamics into environmental sustainability research, offering new insights for policymakers and scholars.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>