Ștefan Codruț Florian Ciobanu

This study explores the complex relationship between innovation and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions across the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors within the 27 European Union (EU) member states over the period 2017–2023. Drawing on a comprehensive dataset and grounded in theoretical frameworks, the research investigates how different innovation indicators—including broadband penetration, digital skills, public and business R&D expenditure, ICT training, and SME-driven innovations—affect sectoral CO₂ emissions. Using robust regression, the findings reveal a nuanced landscape: while ICT skills training, human resource mobility in science and technology, and SME business process innovations are associated with significant reductions in emissions, certain R&D investments and broadband penetration display positive correlations with emissions in specific service-oriented sectors. These results suggest that the environmental impacts of innovation are highly context-dependent and not uniformly positive. This study highlights the importance of strategically aligning innovation policies with sustainability objectives. Policymakers are encouraged to promote targeted digital training, support environmentally conscious R&D, and foster SME-led innovation practices. The results contribute to the growing discourse on sustainable innovation and provide actionable insights to advance the EU’s green transition.

Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12) is vital for promoting sustainable development by enhancing resource efficiency, minimizing waste, and fostering sustainable practices across supply chains. This research investigates sustainable production and consumption dynamics in European Union countries, drawing on official data from the EU Statistical Office (Eurostat). It employs the AAA (Holt–Winters) exponential smoothing algorithm to analyze trends in selected sustainability indicators. Despite notable progress, challenges such as regional disparities and economic barriers remain significant. This research provides critical insights into the evolution of responsible consumption and production across EU countries, projecting trends until 2030. The findings emphasize the need for integrated policies, sustainable practices, and collaborative efforts among stakeholders to meet the EU’s sustainability objectives. Achieving these goals is essential for realizing the 2030 sustainability targets and transitioning to a climate-neutral economy by 2050, ensuring long-term ecological and economic resilience.