IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2021i1p236-d711741.html

Green Technology Innovation, Globalization, and CO 2 Emissions: Recent Insights from the OBOR Economies

Author

Listed:
  • Ahmer Bilal

    (School of Economics, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073, China)

  • Xiaoping Li

    (School of Economics, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073, China)

  • Nanli Zhu

    (Business School, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming 650221, China)

  • Ridhima Sharma

    (Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, IP University, New Delhi 110034, India)

  • Atif Jahanger

    (School of Economics, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China)

Abstract

This study explores the connection between technological innovation, globalization, and CO 2 emissions by controlling the critical influence of information and communication technology (ICT) and economic growth in a panel of One Belt One Road (OBOR) countries from 1991 to 2019, utilizing advanced and robust econometric strategies (second generation). In addition, this study also uses an interaction variable (TI*GLOB) to check the interaction role of technological innovation on the linkage between globalization and CO 2 emission, besides their direct effect on CO 2 emissions in OBOR countries. The outcomes revealed that the linkage between technological innovation and CO 2 emissions is negative, and statically significant in all the regions (e.g., OBOR, South Asia, East and Southeast Asia, MENA, Europe, and Central Asia). Moreover, the results of globalization show a significant positive relationship with CO 2 emissions in OBOR and South Asia region. Nevertheless, it significantly negatively affects environmental pollution in East and Southeast Asia, MENA, Europe, and Central Asia. The results of TI*GLOB indicate that, for the OBOR sample, East and Southeast Asia, and Central Asia, the moderation effects of technological innovation with globalization are significantly negatively associated with CO 2 emissions. However, in MENA and Europe, the interaction effect is a significant positive. The coefficient of ICT for OBOR, Europe, and Central Asia are positive and statistically significant; however, for East, Southeast Asia, and MENA regions, these results are statistically negative. Furthermore, the findings are robust, according to various robustness checks that we have performed for checking the reliability of our main findings. The study establishes numerous polities and makes various recommendations, in light of relevant conclusions.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmer Bilal & Xiaoping Li & Nanli Zhu & Ridhima Sharma & Atif Jahanger, 2021. "Green Technology Innovation, Globalization, and CO 2 Emissions: Recent Insights from the OBOR Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2021:i:1:p:236-:d:711741
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/1/236/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/1/236/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Peter C. B. Phillips & Bruce E. Hansen, 1990. "Statistical Inference in Instrumental Variables Regression with I(1) Processes," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 57(1), pages 99-125.
    2. Chien, Fengsheng & Anwar, Ahsan & Hsu, Ching-Chi & Sharif, Arshian & Razzaq, Asif & Sinha, Avik, 2021. "The role of information and communication technology in encountering environmental degradation: Proposing an SDG framework for the BRICS countries," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    3. Muhammad Qayyum & Minhaj Ali & Mir Muhammad Nizamani & Shijie Li & Yuyuan Yu & Atif Jahanger, 2021. "Nexus between Financial Development, Renewable Energy Consumption, Technological Innovations and CO 2 Emissions: The Case of India," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-19, July.
    4. Li Chunling & Javed Ahmed Memon & Tiep Le Thanh & Minhaj Ali & Dervis Kirikkaleli, 2021. "The Impact of Public-Private Partnership Investment in Energy and Technological Innovation on Ecological Footprint: The Case of Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-16, September.
    5. Dervis Kirikkaleli & Seyed Alireza Athari & Hasan Murat Ertugrul, 2021. "The real estate industry in Turkey: a time series analysis," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(5-6), pages 427-439, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jiali Qian & Yinxiang Zhou, 2026. "Environmental Regulation and Green Technology Innovation: An Evolutionary Game Analysis Between Government and High Energy Consuming Enterprises," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 67(2), pages 1259-1289, February.
    2. Xiaoyu Qu & Xutian Qin & Haichen Hu, 2023. "Research on the Improvement Path of Regional Green Technology Innovation Efficiency in China Based on fsQCA Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-16, February.
    3. Zhao, Xue & Huang, Lu, 2022. "Understanding the dynamic role of natural resources, green technology, economic integration and social globalization towards sustainable environment in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    4. Bai, Jiancheng & Han, Zhiyong & Rizvi, Syed Kumail Abbas & Naqvi, Bushra, 2023. "Green trade or green technology? The way forward for G-7 economies to achieve COP 26 targets while making competing policy choices," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    5. Tayyaba Rani & Muhammad Asif Amjad & Nabila Asghar & Hafeez Ur Rehman, 2023. "Exploring the moderating effect of globalization, financial development and environmental degradation nexus: a roadmap to sustainable development," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(12), pages 14499-14517, December.
    6. Zhao, Qian & Ding, Longfei & Pirtea, Marilen Gabriel & Vǎtavu, Sorana, 2023. "Does technological innovation bring better air quality?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 978-990.
    7. Jeongwon Lee & Kiyoon Shin & Hongbum Kim & Junseok Hwang, 2025. "Efficiency of Innovation Policy with Different Types of R&D Planning: Evidence from South Korea’s Information and Communication Technology Sector," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(1), pages 630-662, March.
    8. Raza, Ali & Ali, Mumtaz & Tursoy, Turgut & Seraj, Mehdi & Habeeb, Yusuf Olatunji, 2024. "Evaluating the Scandinavian economy's transition to a sustainable environment. Fresh evidence from newly developed CS-ARDL approach," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    9. Jian Hou & Huiyu Wang & Tian Tian & Sidan Zhang, 2024. "Does Digital Economy Successfully Drive Down the Energy Intensity? Low-carbon Technology Innovation Perspective," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(4), pages 21582440241, December.
    10. Buhari Doğan & Sunil Tiwari & Brahim Bergougui & Sudeshna Ghosh & Daniel Balsalobre‐Lorente, 2025. "Green Innovation and Fiscal Spending: Decoding the Path to Sustainable Development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(4), pages 6307-6327, August.
    11. Naqvi, Bushra & Rizvi, Syed Kumail Abbas & Mirza, Nawazish & Umar, Muhammad, 2023. "Financial market development: A potentiating policy choice for the green transition in G7 economies," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    12. Ali, Amjad & Sumaira, Sumaira & Siddique, Hafiz Muhammad Abubakar & Ashiq, Saima, 2023. "Impact of Economic Growth, Energy Consumption and Urbanization on Carbon Dioxide Emissions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," MPRA Paper 118832, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Atif Jahanger & Daniel Balsalobre-Lorente & Ahmed Samour & Foday Joof & Mumtaz Ali & Turgut Tursoy, 2022. "Do Renewable Energy and the Real Estate Market Promote Environmental Quality in South Africa: Evidence from the Bootstrap ARDL Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-17, December.
    14. Lin, Hsiao-Hsien & Hsu, Chao-Chun & Wu, Po-Hsuan & Shen, Chih-Chien & Chen, Gan-Hong, 2024. "Demystifying the interconnections among natural resources, fintech, green technologies, and sustainable environment in E-7 nations," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    15. Ozkan, Oktay & Coban, Mustafa Necati & Destek, Mehmet Akif, 2024. "Navigating the winds of change: Assessing the impact of wind energy innovations and fossil energy efficiency on carbon emissions in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    16. Muhammad Ramzan & Ummara Razi & Muhammad Umer Quddoos & Tomiwa Sunday Adebayo, 2023. "Do green innovation and financial globalization contribute to the ecological sustainability and energy transition in the United Kingdom? Policy insights from a bootstrap rolling window approach," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(1), pages 393-414, February.
    17. Nketiah, Emmanuel & Song, Huaming & Adjei, Mavis & Obuobi, Bright & Adu-Gyamfi, Gibbson, 2024. "Assessing the influence of research and development, environmental policies, and green technology on ecological footprint for achieving environmental sustainability," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Muhammad Qayyum & Yuyuan Yu & Mir Muhammad Nizamani & Saqlain Raza & Minhaj Ali & Shijie Li, 2023. "Financial Instability and CO2 Emissions in India: Evidence from ARDL Bound Testing Approach," Energy & Environment, , vol. 34(4), pages 808-829, June.
    2. Li Chunling & Javed Ahmed Memon & Tiep Le Thanh & Minhaj Ali & Dervis Kirikkaleli, 2021. "The Impact of Public-Private Partnership Investment in Energy and Technological Innovation on Ecological Footprint: The Case of Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-16, September.
    3. Halmat Omer & Murad Bein, 2022. "Does the Moderating Role of Financial Development on Energy Utilization Contributes to Environmental Sustainability in GCC Economies?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Minhaj Ali & Dervis Kirikkaleli & Mehmet Altuntaş, 2024. "The nexus between CO2 intensity of GDP and environmental degradation in South European countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(5), pages 11089-11100, May.
    5. Chun Li & Bakhtawer Ayub, 2025. "The green response of financial inclusion, infrastructure development and renewable energy to the environmental sustainability: A newly evidence from OECD economies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 20(1), pages 1-30, January.
    6. Magaji Yakubu & Samson Aladejare, 2025. "Renewable Energy and Ecological Sustainability in Africa: Does Foreign Debt and Financial Globalisation Matter?," Energy Technologies and Environment, Anser Press, vol. 3(1), pages 1-22, March.
    7. Zeeshan Khan & Muhsin Ali & Dervis Kirikkaleli & Salman Wahab & Zhilun Jiao, 2020. "The impact of technological innovation and public‐private partnership investment on sustainable environment in China: Consumption‐based carbon emissions analysis," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(5), pages 1317-1330, September.
    8. Lakshmana Padhan & Savita Bhat, 2025. "Analysing the role of globalisation, institutional qualities, and renewable energy consumption in environmental degradation mitigation: the SAARC experience," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(5), pages 10373-10397, May.
    9. Yongming Huang & Muhammed Ashiq Villanthenkodath & Mohammad Haseeb, 2023. "The nexus between eco‐friendly technology and environmental degradation in India: Does the N or inverted N‐shape load capacity curve(LCC) hypothesis hold?," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 47(2), pages 276-297, May.
    10. Minhaj Ali & Kishwar Ali, 2025. "Analyzing the non‐linear association between natural resources, remittances, and ecological footprint: An analysis of Bangladesh's environmental decline," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 49(4), pages 3298-3318, November.
    11. Gong Caijuan & Farah Durani & Afshan Hamid & Qasim Raza Syed & Kay Hooi Keoy & Ahsan Anwar, 2026. "Navigating the green growth spectrum: Exploring the synergy between geopolitical risk, environmental policy stringency, and green production practices," Energy & Environment, , vol. 37(2), pages 826-852, March.
    12. Muhammad Qayyum & Minhaj Ali & Mir Muhammad Nizamani & Shijie Li & Yuyuan Yu & Atif Jahanger, 2021. "Nexus between Financial Development, Renewable Energy Consumption, Technological Innovations and CO 2 Emissions: The Case of India," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-19, July.
    13. Chao Ma & Hongying Li & Sardar Fawad Saleem & Firicel Mone, 2023. "Balancing Progress and Sustainability : Industrial Innovation's Impact on Europe's Emission Management, Economic Expansion, and Financial Growth," Journal for Economic Forecasting, Institute for Economic Forecasting, vol. 0(3), pages 129-147, October.
    14. Abid Ali Randhawa & Mahamane Famanta & Abdelmohsen A. Nassani & Magdalena Radulescu, 2025. "Green horizons: Synergized green technological innovation and green energy consumption on ecological degradation," Energy & Environment, , vol. 36(1), pages 448-470, February.
    15. Cankun Ma & Md. Qamruzzaman, 2022. "An Asymmetric Nexus between Urbanization and Technological Innovation and Environmental Sustainability in Ethiopia and Egypt: What Is the Role of Renewable Energy?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-25, June.
    16. Joaquín Bernal-Ramírez & Jair Ojeda-Joya & Camila Agudelo-Rivera & Felipe Clavijo-Ramírez & Carolina Durana-Ángel & Clark Granger-Castaño & Daniel Osorio-Rodríguez & Daniel Parra-Amado & José Pulido &, 2022. "Impacto macroeconómico del cambio climático en Colombia," Revista ESPE - Ensayos sobre Política Económica, Banco de la Republica de Colombia, issue 102, pages 1-62, July.
    17. Matteo Mogliani, 2010. "Residual-based tests for cointegration and multiple deterministic structural breaks: A Monte Carlo study," Working Papers halshs-00564897, HAL.
    18. Georgios Bertsatos & Plutarchos Sakellaris & Mike G. Tsionas, 2022. "Correction to: Extensions of the Pesaran, Shin and Smith (2001) bounds testing procedure," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 62(2), pages 635-635, February.
    19. Jason Allen & Robert Amano & David P. Byrne & Allan W. Gregory, 2009. "Canadian city housing prices and urban market segmentation," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 42(3), pages 1132-1149, August.
    20. Raffaello Bronzini & Paolo Piselli, 2006. "Determinants of long-run regional productivity: the role of R&D, human capital and public infrastructure," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 597, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2021:i:1:p:236-:d:711741. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.