Dynamic role of renewable energy efficiency, natural resources, and climate technologies in realizing environmental sustainability: Implications for China

This research examines the effect of China's renewable energy efficiency, natural resources, and climate technologies on ecological footprints (EFP). It applies Bootstrap ARDL modeling to investigate the cointegrated relationship among the selected variables by utilizing the quarterly data from 1995 to 2019. The results affirm that a 1% increase in energy efficiency and climate technologies significantly improves environmental sustainability by 0.627% (0.352%) and 0.328% (0.052%) in the long-run (short-run). In contrast, natural resources increase the EFP by 0.304% in the long run. The findings indicate a more substantial impact on EFP in the long run and endorse significant convergence toward long-term equilibrium. Additionally, the findings confirm a bidirectional causality between energy efficiency and EFP and climate technologies and EFP. Nevertheless, unidirectional causality exists between natural resources and EFP and trade and EFP. These results provide valuable insight for the government and environmentalists to ensure sustainable resource management.