Climate resilience through economic development, energy transition and sustainable development: insights from wavelet coherence approach

Purpose Adjusted net savings (ANS) is a pivotal indicator of sustainable development, combining environmental costs, resource depletion and economic performance. While ANS fosters short-term environmental accountability, its focus on immediate economic gains may undermine long-term climate resilience by discouraging investments in clean energy and ecological innovation (ECI). This study aims to investigate the dynamic relationship between ANS, natural resource (NAR) management, clean energy transition (CLT) and ECI in China, providing actionable insights for achieving climate-resilient growth. Design/methodology/approach Using an innovative wavelet coherence approach, the authors analyse annual data from 1980 to 2020 in China to uncover time–frequency dependencies among key variables. Findings The authors’ results indicate that NARs drive short-to-medium-term CLTs and positively influence ECI in the medium term. However, the long-term relationship between NAR and ANS is negative, revealing a conflict between economic priorities and sustainable resource management. In addition, while CLT and ECI exhibit a strong short-to-medium-term synergy, this linkage weakens over time due to barriers in scaling green technologies and policy inertia. Notably, CLT negatively correlates with ANS in the medium term, suggesting that China’s resource-intensive growth model and short-term economic incentives may impede its clean energy shift. Originality/value This study highlights the urgent need for integrated policies that reconcile economic development with long-term climate resilience. Key recommendations include enhancing green financing mechanisms, incentivizing ECI and realigning ANS metrics with sustainable development goals to accelerate China’s transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient future.