Resource curse or blessing? Evaluating the role of natural resource, social globalization, and environmental sustainability in China

Due to increased energy use, the current global trend toward sustainable development has brought significant attention to environmental challenges. Even though there is a wealth of literature on growth, the environment, and energy, only a few studies have examined how natural resources affect environmental quality. In light of this, this study utilized data from 1970 to 2021 to objectively explore the impacts of natural resources, social globalization, and economic expansion on China's CO2 emission. The study employed several time series techniques to explore this connection. The unit root tests confirm that variables are stationary with a mixed trend. The results from the ARDL bounds affirm evidence of co-integration among the series. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) results show that economic growth, fossil fuel, and natural resources worsen the environment while renewable energy and social globalization improve the environment. In addition, the frequency domain causality result shows that natural resources, social globalization, energy, and economic growth can forecast China's CO2 emissions in the long term. These results have significant policy implications for developing long-run sustainable policies.