<p>Sustainable development stresses the importance of integrating human resource development to address the complexities of global society and the economy. This integration highlights their pivotal role in enhancing environmental sustainability while fostering sustainable development. This paper examines the roles of human resources and technological innovation, key pillars of the knowledge economy, in reducing carbon emissions and promoting long-term sustainable development in Türkiye. Using annual data from 1990 to 2019, the paper applies the bounds test ARDL approach to explore the impact of expanded secondary education enrollments, patent activity, and renewable energy consumption on carbon emissions in Türkiye. The findings demonstrate that expanded education and technological innovation significantly contribute to environmental degradation in advancing sustainable development over the long term. Additionally, renewable energy consumption supports environmental sustainability associated with reducing carbon emissions. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by presenting empirical evidence on the contribution of human resources development to environmental sustainability in Türkiye. This is further validated by the CEC model, which confirms that expanded education and technological innovation enhance environmental quality by lowering carbon emissions. Examining the critical roles of expanded education and technology in promoting environmental quality within the Turkish context would address a notable gap in the existing literature. These results underscore the importance of integrating knowledge-based assets into sustainability strategies. In addition, this paper contributes to the knowledge economy literature by linking human resources and technological development with environmental and economic outcomes, providing actionable insights for policymakers to foster a knowledge-driven, sustainable economy in Türkiye.</p>