The role of democratic governance and patent innovations in advancing sustainable energy transition

Abstract

Transitioning to sustainable and green energy is a critical pathway to achieving long-term sustainable development. While substantial research has been conducted on renewable energy, a significant gap remains in examining the specific roles that women in politics, democracy, and patent innovations play in influencing RE adoption. This study aims to address this gap by exploring the impact of these factors on RE, with a focus on the United Kingdom as a case study, covering the period from 1997Q2 to 2021Q4. Employing a series of advanced wavelet-based quantile techniques, this research highlights the dynamic relationships between these variables across different quantiles and time scales. The results demonstrate that women in politics and patent innovations consistently promote the adoption of renewable energy across various quantiles and time scales. Democracy is found to have a positive influence on renewable energy in the short and long terms but exhibits a negative impact in the medium term. Research and development (R&D) yield mixed effects in the short and medium terms, yet show a robust positive impact on renewable energy in the long run. Surprisingly, economic growth appears to detract from renewable energy adoption across various quantiles and time scales. Based on these findings, the study advocates for policies that encourage greater female political participation, foster innovation through patents, strengthen democratic institutions, design more effective R&D incentives, and incorporate sustainability into economic policy frameworks. These recommendations are aligned with the achievement of SDGs 7, 9, 8, and 13.