Quality and Quantity, 2026 (Scopus)
Technological innovation and human capital are frequently seen as powerful tools for addressing the climate crisis. However, there is no consensus among researchers on how technological innovation and human capital drive sustainable development. Therefore, this study quantifies the impact of technological innovation and human capital in newly industrialized countries from 2000 to 2019 using panel data analysis that accounts for cross-sectional dependence. The empirical results show that economic growth and energy consumption reduce the load capacity factor while human capital accumulation increases it. Lastly, an empirical analysis using various technological innovation proxies shows that technological innovation can decrease the load capacity factor in newly industrialized countries. One of the policy implications of the results is that technological innovation, such as patent applications, research, and development, provides credible pathways to achieve sustainable development.