Mediating pathways to Canada's just energy transition: The interplay of digitalization, environmental innovation, and governance quality

OpenAlex İngilizce

Achieving a just energy transition (JENT) requires more than technological change; it also demands institutional transformation and inclusive governance. This study uncovers how digitalization and environmental innovation jointly drive Canada's just energy transition, with governance serving as a mediator. Evidence is based on yearly data from 1990 to 2021, analyzed using a DARDL approach with mediation analysis. The outcomes show that both digitalization and environmental innovation significantly enhance progress toward a just energy transition. Notably, governance functions as a critical transmission mechanism, with indirect effects through improved institutional quality often exceeding direct effects. These results uncover a clear pathway: digital transformation and green innovation strengthen governance capacity, which in turn accelerates equitable decarbonization. By integrating insights on technological, institutional, and social dimensions, this study offers a new framework linking digital-economic advancement to energy justice and policy performance. It recommends that policymakers strengthen digital infrastructure, foster innovation ecosystems, and implement governance reforms to ensure that Canada's energy transition proceeds swiftly while remaining equitable, inclusive, and resilient.