Advancing environmental sustainability through fintech, structural transformation, and resource diversification in emerging economies

The implementation of sustainable ecological practices remains a substantial hurdle for emerging economies. While several studies have evaluated the environmental Kuznets curve, a holistic analysis of the load capacity curve (LCC) hypothesis in emerging seven economies is strikingly lacking. Hence, this study appraises the impact of fintech, structural change, total natural resource rents, and natural resource diversification on environmental quality within the LCC framework in emerging seven economies, comprising China, Russia, India, Mexico, Indonesia, Brazil, and Turkey. This research applied linear (bias-corrected method of moment estimators and panels corrected standard errors) and non-linear models (Method of Moments Quantile Regression) to analyze data from 1990 to 2022. The study validates the LCC hypothesis in these economies. Additionally, the study revealed that natural resource rent reduces environmental quality while natural resource diversification supports environmental stewardship. Fintech and structural change also play significant roles in enhancing ecological resilience in these economies. Finally, the study shows that growth, fintech, structural change, and resource dynamics exert mixed, country-specific impacts on ecological sustainability, highlighting the pivotal role of diversification and institutional quality. Therefore, policymakers should drive low-carbon structural changes, harness fintech for green finance, diversify resource use, and strengthen governance to align growth with ecological sustainability.