Unleashing the Influence Mechanism of Technology Innovation and Human Development for Ecological Sustainability in Emerging Countries

ABSTRACT

The strife for more incredible and sustainable human development is often associated with compromised environmental standards. Early growth may increase pollutant emissions that can be regulated later. Human development, the main ingredient of sustainable development, may increase emissions or reduce them through technological improvements. The emerging seven (E7) economies provide an intriguing case to test the direct and indirect impact of human development on CO₂ emissions to confirm the nexus in the early stage of industrialization. The study applies the structural equation approach to investigate the relationship between the human development index (HDI), green technological innovations, and CO₂ emissions in E7 economies over the period 1990–2021. Our findings indicate that HDI increases consumption-based CO₂ emissions both directly and indirectly, where even the mediating impact of innovations is also positive, thereby confirming the fact that HDI and innovations both may have deteriorated implications for environmental performance at the earlier stages of development. The study findings imply that the policymakers of the transition economies need to rethink their policy choices regarding controlling pollution and safeguarding the environment. The study’s conclusion has essential ramifications for reducing pollution through enacting HDI and supporting innovations.

KEYWORDS:

• HDI
• green technological innovation
• CO₂ emissions
• emerging economies

JEL:

• O15
• Q53
• Q55

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors Contributions

All authors equally contributed to perform the study.

Data Availability Statement

Data can be available on request to first or corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the [Research on the Mechanism, Evolution and Realization Path of Cultural Industry Integration Development, National Nature Fund of China] under Grant [71974158]; [Shaanxi Province Soft Science Project “Science and Technology Innovation to Support the Independent and Controllable Ability of the Core Industry Chain of Digital Economy”] under Grant [2023-CX-RKX-143].