Sustainable development and mineral resource extraction in China: Exploring the role of mineral resources, energy efficiency and renewable energy

Climate change and global warming have emerged as critical global challenges due to environmental degradation. In response to these concerns, the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) has formulated objectives aimed at curbing carbon emissions. Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, along with effective natural resource extraction, energy efficiency improvements, and economic growth, are crucial for environmental stability and reducing carbon emissions. This study focuses on examining changes in China's carbon emissions from 1986 to 2021, considering factors such as mineral resource extraction, economic growth, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. The present study employs robust econometric techniques such as unit root tests, long-term cointegration analysis utilizing the Bayer-Hanck model, and empirical examinations through FMOLS, DOLS, CCR, and Quantile regression. The empirical findings highlight a negative association between mineral resource extraction, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and carbon emissions, signifying their positive impact on environmental sustainability. Conversely, economic growth shows a positive association with carbon emissions. Notably, energy efficiency demonstrates larger coefficients across all quantiles, while renewable energy remains consistently significant. These outcomes underscore the importance of investing in renewable energy technology to achieve greener production and prioritize efficient utilization of mineral resources. The robustness checks conducted through quantile regression further validate the results. Consequently, policymakers and practitioners should focus on increasing investments in green and renewable energy, promoting efficient resource utilization, and enhancing energy efficiency to combat climate change effectively.