Will digital economy, green innovation and renewable energy become catalysts for sustainable development? New insights from quantile and time perspectives

Purpose This study aims to examine the dynamic and distributional effects of digital economy (DIE), green innovation (GIN), renewable energy (REE) on sustainable development (SUS) amid accelerating digital and green transformations. Design/methodology/approach Using a quantile autoregressive distributed lag model, this study conducts a time- and quantile-varying analysis of the relationships among DIE, GIN, REE and SUS across different quantiles and time horizons, focusing on asymmetric dynamics and quantile dependency. Findings Results reveal that both DIE and REE exhibit significant positive influences on SUS over the long term, while REE serves as a key driver of sustainability in the short term. Asymmetry analysis indicates that the effects of REE and GIN are most pronounced at median levels of SUS, while DIE’s influence intensifies at higher quantiles, reflecting its role in advanced sustainability ecosystems. Strategic prioritization identifies DIE as the dominant long-term enabler, REE as the rapid-response tool and GIN as a latent force of sustainability. Practical implications The findings provide practical insights for policymakers to tailor sustainability strategies by leveraging digital transformation, accelerating renewable energy deployment and strengthening green innovation systems. Social implications By shedding light on the differentiated roles of digitalization, green innovation and clean energy in promoting sustainability, this study contributes to the formulation of targeted policies that support sustainable development goals. Originality/value This paper offers a novel theoretical perspective by integrating DIE, GIN, REE and SUS into a unified framework. It also uniquely integrates the quantile-based approach to uncover the asymmetric and dynamic influences of DIE, GIN and REE on sustainable development, enhancing understanding of the contextual effectiveness of different sustainability drivers.