Testing the impacts of renewable energy, natural resources rent, and technological innovation on the ecological footprint in the USA: Evidence from Bootstrapping ARDL

For the past few decades, there has been a vibrant discussion on the connection between natural resources and the quality of the surrounding environment. It has been established that many wealthy economies with natural resources have had favourable progress in technology and economy. Still, the main challenges are how renewable energy, natural resources, and technological innovation in leading natural resources abundant countries such as the USA affect environmental quality. To this end, this paper investigates the impact of natural resources rent, technological innovation, renewable energy, and economic growth on the ecological footprint in the USA from 1970 to 2019. The findings obtained using an innovative testing method known as Bootstrapping ARDL indicate that renewable energy sources improve environmental quality, but natural resources worsen it. The results also affirm that technological innovation is significantly associated with ecological quality. The results have important policy implications for policymakers regarding natural resources and technology innovation toward ecological quality enrichment, being necessary advances in sustainable growth after the COVID-19 process. [Display omitted] •The study applies an innovative testing method known as Bootstrapping ARDL.•Renewable energy sources improve environmental quality.•Natural resources worsen environmental quality.•Technological innovation is significantly associated with ecological quality.•Empirical results have important policy implications for policymakers after COVID-19.