Advancing renewable energy strategies towards sustainable development goal 13: insights from belt and road initiative (BRI) countries

This study investigates the moderating role of eco-technology on renewable energy strategies and ecological footprint (EF) reduction in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries. Grounded in the Environmental Kuznets Curve and Technological Innovation theories, we analyzed a sample of 128 BRI countries from 1990 to 2022. Using advanced econometric approaches, including the common correlation effect mean group, augmented mean group, and pooled mean group estimators, as well as instrumental variables for robustness, we present a comprehensive analysis of these dynamics. Findings reveal that renewable energy investment, renewable energy share, and installed capacity significantly reduce EF, while increased domestic manufacturing capacity is associated with higher EF. Notably, a U-shaped relationship between renewable energy adoption and EF suggests that renewable energy initially reduces EF until reaching a threshold where its marginal impact declines. Furthermore, technological innovation and environmental regulations enhance the effectiveness of renewable energy adoption in reducing EF, though effects vary across different regions within the BRI countries. These findings underscore the importance of targeted policies to strengthen renewable energy adoption and eco-technology, supporting Sustainable Development Goal 13. Policymakers are encouraged to implement rigorous technological innovations and environmental regulations to maximize renewable energy's potential in reducing environmental impact across BRI nations.