Jianguang Deng, Mu Qiao, Emma Serwaa Obobisa, Chun-lok Kris Li, Isaac Adjei Mensah
The increasing vulnerability of African nations to climate change underscores the need to identify the institutional, structural, and technological drivers of CO 2 emissions to advance progress toward SDG 13. However, the role of institutional, technological innovation, and trade in influencing CO 2 emissions remains insufficiently examined in an integrated and multi-channel framework within the African context. Using panel data of 15 African countries from 2000 to 2022, this study utilizes the Bias-Corrected Method of Moments and system GMM to examine the effects of the rule of law, green technology innovation, renewable energy consumption, international trade, and GDP on CO 2 emissions. The results reveal that the rule of law reduces CO 2 emissions, highlighting the role of strong governance and regulatory enforcement in improving environmental performance. Renewable energy consumption is found to reduce CO 2 emissions, reaffirming the environmental benefits of a clean-energy transition in Africa. In contrast, green technology innovation increases CO 2 emissions, suggesting a rebound effect and the predominance of carbon-intensive innovation pathways. GDP similarly contributes to rising CO 2 emissions, consistent with scale-driven environmental pressure. Trade is positively and insignificantly associated with CO 2 emissions. The results underscore the need for Africa to strengthen institutional quality, scale up clean energy systems, and reorient trade toward sustainable sectors to achieve SDG 13. • Examined the effect of rule of law, green technology innovation, andtrade on CO 2 emissions. • Rule of law significantly reduces CO 2 emissions across the African countries. • Green innovation raises CO 2 emissions, showing early-stage rebound effects. • Renewable energy use lowers emissions, supporting Africa's clean transition. • GDP increases CO 2 emissions, reflecting scale-driven pressures.