Examining the Effects of Energy Efficiency RD and Renewable Energy on Environmental Sustainability Amidst Political Risk in France

The urgent need to address climate change and the depletion of natural resources has led governmentsworldwide to allocate significant resources towards research and development in cleanenergy technologies and energy efficiency. This study evaluates the effectiveness of renewableenergy and energy efficiency initiatives in reducing CO2 emissions, taking into account the influencesof natural resource availability and political risk. Using data from France spanningfrom 1985 to 2021, we employ the kernel-based regularized least squares (KRLS) methodology,complemented by quantile regression (QR), to analyse these relationships. Our findings indicatethat policies promoting energy efficiency and green energy have a positive impact on reducingCO2 emissions. However, the availability of natural resources and political risk exacerbate environmentalchallenges by increasing CO2 emissions. Thus, our study underscores the importanceof continued support from policymakers for renewable energy development and energy efficiencyresearch to effectively pursue Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, as the worldprepares for COP28, our findings emphasize the urgency of these initiatives in meeting globalclimate targets.