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The primary aim of this work is to prognosticate and evaluate the trajectory pertaining to the realization of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) contingent upon the income levels prevalent within a diverse cohort of 349 countries. Employing Holt's forecast method, we classified SDGs in three bundles, namely higher needs, basic needs, and governance. Our analysis concludes that nations endowed with greater income levels exhibit a discernible amelioration in their SDGs indices, while countries with low and lower middle‐income strata manifest an alarming worsening of their trends. These empirical findings bear significant implications for policymakers ensconced within nations committed to the achievement of these goals, supranational institutions, non‐governmental organizations (NGOs), and scholars. The widening developmental gap urges for greater institutional attention from the international community before the situation further deteriorates. Tailored policies and strategic initiatives might effectively address the idiosyncratic challenges faced by these nations. Concurrently, fostering international cooperation and collaborative endeavors stand as potent prerequisites, substantively bolstering the concerted pursuit of sustainable development goals and enduring sustainability for the entirety of humanity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shift to renewable energy is essential for addressing climate change and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. This paper analyzes the relationship between patent applications for renewable energy technologies and clean energy production in 45 countries from 2000 to 2019. Using a System Generalized Method of Moments Panel Vector Autoregressive (GMM-PVAR) model, Impulse Response Functions (IRFs), and Granger causality tests, the findings show that a shock to renewable energy patents does not immediately affect clean energy production. However, a temporary decline occurs in the second period, followed by gradual increases that stabilize in the long run. This suggests a delayed but sustained impact of innovation on energy generation due to the time required for technology implementation and infrastructure adaptation. Bidirectional causality between patents and energy production reveals a feedback loop, where innovation drives energy development, and increased energy production fosters further advancements. Additionally, GDP per capita, foreign direct investment, political stability, and trade openness significantly affect clean energy production. Political stability positively influences long-term renewable energy generation, while GDP and trade openness show short-term fluctuations before stabilizing. These findings highlight the evolving nature of the renewable energy sector and the critical role of innovation and economic factors in driving growth. [Display omitted] • The effect of patents on renewable energy in 45 countries (2000–2019) was analyzed. • Patents have no immediate impact on renewable energy but show long-term effects. • There is a bidirectional causality between patents and renewable energy production. • Renewable energy improves political stability by reducing fossil fuel dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript critically examines the intricate interplay between diverse foreign direct investment (FDI) flows, energy intensity, and their consequential effects on circular economies (CEs), specifically in terms of the waste recycling ratio, within the member states of the European Union over the period spanning from 2000 to 2021. Our findings substantiate that inflows and outflows of FDI have different implications for waste recycling, where an increase of 1% OFDI implies an increase of recycling ratio by 0.03%, a relationship that is potentially contingent upon the inherent characteristics of the flow itself in relation to its contributions to local productivity dynamics. In this vein, the influx of FDI, which is associated with amplified capital inputs and heightened productivity levels, is observed to exert a dampening effect on recycling capabilities, by an average of 0.01% for every 1% change. Conversely, the outflow of FDI entails reduced capital inputs, thereby curbing waste generation resulting from enhanced productivity capacities. Moreover, diminished energy intensity exerts a positive influence on the recycling ratio, thereby fostering the advancement of CE. To capitalize on their locational advantages, it is recommended that the European Union proactively foster the development of specialized zones that concentrate inflows of FDI, thereby facilitating the logistical complexities associated with waste recycling arising from FDI-driven productive activities. Such strategic initiatives hold the potential to contribute to heightened resource efficiency within the broader productivity relationship., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)