Illuminating the path to decarbonization: Nuclear energy consumption, clean energy production, and sustainable fuel production for long-term development

The global concern over carbon emissions has necessitated a deep understanding of energy use and air pollution. The fossil fuel- and nuclear-dependent Russian economy is an exciting exception. It examined how nuclear energy consumption (NEC), electricity generation, R&D investment, clean energy production technology, e-commerce penetration, capital creation, and carbon pollution affect the Russian economy. Short- and long-term interactions between these variables are assessed using the ARDL-Bound testing model for 1995Q1–2020Q4. The results show that NEC negatively correlates with CO2 emissions. The study also supports the inverted U-shaped Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis, showing a positive and significant relationship between clean power production technology and CO2 emissions and a negative and significant relationship between square clean alternative energy innovation and CO2 emissions. Scientific and technical expenditures, fossil fuel coal liquefaction, and investment all negatively and statistically significantly affect CO2 emissions. However, the analysis implies that e-commerce increases CO2 emissions. These findings highlight the need for significant R&D investment to create precise and realistic ways to decrease carbon emissions and protect the environment in accordance with COP 26 targets. These findings have significant implications for the Russian economy, showing that improving energy sources and investing more in R&D may reduce carbon emissions.