Do Economic Policy Uncertainty, Renewable Energy and Digitalisation Improve Ecological Quality? A Brazilian Case

ABSTRACT Brazil's longstanding reliance on fossil fuels to meet its energy needs has made the country vulnerable to environmental challenges caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Despite its commitment to international environmental agreements such as the Paris Accord and the Sustainable Development Goals, Brazil has struggled to effectively protect its environment. This study explores the impact of renewable energy, economic growth, and technological innovation on ecological indicators, including CO 2 emissions and load capacity factor, within Brazil. Using quarterly data from 1990Q1 to 2020Q4, the analysis applies Quantile Quantile Kernel Based Regularized Least Squares. The results highlight the critical importance of renewable energy, economic growth, economic policy uncertainty, digitalization, and natural resources in combating environmental degradation. Based on these findings, it is recommended that Brazil reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, incorporate environmental objectives into its economic development plans, and enhance technological innovation to promote sustainability and improve ecological quality.