How does the productivity of renewable energy respond to institutional pressures and higher education?

Over the past few decades, the share of renewable energy has escalated in the total energy mix due to its indispensable role in global mitigating efforts. Therefore, the focus of empirics has recently shifted towards the factors that can impact renewable energy. Nevertheless, the role of institutional pressures and higher education in fostering renewable energy production has yet to be analyzed. This study examines the nexus between institutional pressures, higher education, and renewable energy production in top polluted economies using the CS-ARDL model. The estimates imply that institutional pressures, higher education, environmental policy stringency, GDP, and ICT factors favorably impact renewable energy production. In the short run, only the GDP and financial globalization boost renewable energy production. To boost renewable energy production, policymakers should increase awareness by increasing the general level of education and strengthening the government's role in the successful implementation of these policies.