Purpose The MENA region faces energy security and environmental challenges, necessitating the adoption of sustainable energy for sustainable development. Green innovation has emerged as a crucial factor in promoting renewable energy adoption and building an enduring and eco-friendly energy system. This research examines the influence of green innovation on clean energy adoption from 1985 to 2019. Design/methodology/approach To ensure the robustness of the analysis, this study employs three indicators as proxies for renewable energy and develops three models that incorporate urbanization, CO2 emissions, and economic growth as control variables. Various statistical tests, including panel unit root tests, diagnostic tests, the Least Squares Dummy Variables (LSDV) method, and a Granger causality test, are utilized. In addition, the study incorporates the Augmented Mean Group (AMG) method as a robustness check. Findings The findings reveal a positive relationship between green innovation and the advancement of renewable energy across all models. This highlights the significance of investing in green innovation as a fundamental driver for promoting sustainable energy generation in the MENA region. The research also emphasizes the positive impact of economic growth on renewable energy development. Furthermore, urbanization contributes to the progress of renewable energy. Additionally, the study demonstrates that increased CO2 emissions are associated with higher levels of sustainable energy generation. Originality/value This study addresses a research gap by investigating the impact of green innovation on clean energy progress in the MENA region, an aspect overlooked in existing literature that primarily focuses on regulatory barriers. Specifically, it examines the influence of green innovation, measured through environmental-related technology patents, on sustainable energy systems in MENA. Utilizing patents as a metric offers advantages by directly assessing innovation deployment and providing broader geographical coverage.

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