Green energy dynamics: Analyzing the environmental impacts of renewable, hydro, and nuclear energy consumption in Pakistan

The primary objective of the Sustainable Development Goals is to reduce global warming and climate change by encouraging renewable energy consumption. In this context, it is essential to consider whether renewable energy can contribute to a more sustainable environment. Most researchers have used ecological footprint or CO2 emissions indicators to look at how renewable energy affects environmental degradation, which primarily represents contamination induced by humans' consumption patterns and does not consider the impact of the supply side. Against this background, the study examined the dynamic relationship between various forms of renewable energy, nuclear energy, and environmental sustainability using the load capacity factor as an ecological indicator in Pakistan. To accomplish this task, the authors applied the dynamic Autoregressive Distribution Lag (DARDL) technique to investigate the long-run relationship between the determinants of the load capacity factor. The study's outcome reveals that nuclear and renewable energy promote sustainable development by enhancing the load capacity factor. Contrary to this, hydro energy consumption and economic growth impede environmental sustainability by lowering the load capacity factor. Further, policy-oriented recommendations are provided following these significant findings.