INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION AND RENEWABLE ENERGY ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION IN THE SELECTED COUNTRIES WITH HIGH POLLUTION

Abstract

The extensive consumption of non-renewable energies as well as the widespread increase in economic activities in recent decades has had caused great environmental impacts. These impacts include the Earth temperature increase, climate change, sea level rising, and finally international disputes exacerbation. Some countries have made extensive efforts in recent years to make greater use of the potential of renewable energies for technological innovation. These efforts are in line with increasing the benefits of using these energies and new technologies and comply with international agreements to reduce the Earth temperature. In this paper, panel quantile regression model was examined to evaluate the effects of technological innovation and renewable and non-renewable energy consumption on CO2 emission rate in 15 countries with high CO2 emissions during 1990–2016. The results of the present study revealed that renewable energies and technological innovations had significant and negative effects on CO2 emissions. The effect of non-renewable energies on CO2 emissions was positive and significant.