Investigate the role of technology innovation and renewable energy in reducing transport sector CO2 emission in China: A path toward sustainable development

Abstract The objective of this research is to examine the role of economic growth, technology innovation, and renewable energy in reducing transport sector CO 2 emission in China by using the annual data of 1990–2018. An application of the QARDL approach discloses that economic growth, technology innovation, and renewable energy significantly influence CO 2 emission in the transportation sector in China. Both renewable energy consumption and innovation show a negative impact on emissions of CO 2 related to transport. It depicts that due to the increase in renewable energy and innovation, the CO 2 emission in the transport sector is likely to decrease; however, an increase in the GDP of a country will upsurge the emission of CO 2 in the transportation sector. However, China should make new policies to introduce innovation in the transportation sector to minimize the emission of CO 2 .