Green technological development and energy transition for climate sustainability in India

This study examines the asymmetric effects of innovation, renewable energy, and technological know-how on greenhouse gas emissions in India over the period 1990–2018. Using annual data from the World Development Indicators, the study employs the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model to capture both short-run and long-run asymmetric relationships between the variables. The results reveal significant asymmetries in the impact of innovation, renewable energy consumption, and technological know-how on environmental degradation. Positive shocks in renewable energy consumption significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the importance of clean energy transitions for environmental sustainability. Conversely, positive shocks in innovation and technological development initially increase emissions, reflecting industrial expansion and energy-intensive production processes. The study also tests the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis and finds no evidence supporting its validity in the case of India during the study period. These findings underscore the need for policy strategies that promote environmentally friendly technological innovation and expand renewable energy investment. Strengthening green technological development and accelerating the energy transition are crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving Sustainable Development Goal 13 related to climate action.