Investigating the EKC hypothesis with renewable energy, nuclear energy, and R&D for EU: fresh panel evidence

emissions. The article also applied the CCEMG, AMG, and MG estimators to test the robustness. The CS-ARDL methodology demonstrates that increasing national income, nuclear energy, and investment in R&D alone will not be sufficient to fulfill environmental needs and that the use of alternative renewable energy sources is the greatest approach to mitigate environmental deterioration in the EU. The AMG, MG, and CCEMG estimators all agree that switching to renewable energy is the most effective strategy to lower emissions. This research offers crucial guidelines for advancing environmental policy and realizing sustainable development. Discussion, policy recommendations, and future research based on the findings are presented.