Does green innovation moderate between FDI and environmental sustainability? Empirical evidence from South Asia

The study aims to investigate how foreign direct investment (FDI) and green innovation (GI) impact environmental quality in South Asia. Moreover, this study examines the moderating role of GI between FDI and environmental sustainability. We use panel data from 1995 to 2018 for five South Asian nations namely, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. For the empirical analysis, we used 1(st) generation cointegration like Pedroni and Kao, and 2(nd) generation cointegration tests like Westerlund. Moreover, for the long-run relationship, we employ fully modified least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) estimation. The study’s empirical results suggest that GI significantly enhances ecological sustainability in South Asian economies; however, FDI degrades the environmental quality. Furthermore, the results suggest that GI significantly moderates the nexus of FDI and ecological sustainability in South Asia. It is recommended that South Asian countries increase green innovation with FDI so that environmental quality can be assured for the region’s sustainable development.