How natural disasters affect energy innovation? The perspective of environmental sustainability

The nexus between natural disasters and energy technological innovation is of great importance in the energy technology innovation theory and related literature. This research thus investigates the influence of natural disasters on energy technology innovation by using panel data technology from 1975 to 2018 for the samples of 29 OECD countries and first finds that natural disasters may have a significantly negative impact on energy technology innovation, which not only is impactful in the year of the natural disasters, but also lasts over the next 4 years. In addition, the effects of natural shocks on energy innovation appears to be weaken by greater economic development, trade openness, financial openness, interpersonal globalization and government stability. Furthermore, epidemic has the biggest negative impact on energy innovation. Finally, natural disasters are significantly negatively related to low-carbon energy innovation, but not related to non-low carbon energy innovation. Overall, the findings provide a research reference for how the policy makers can improve the level of energy innovation in the face of natural disasters and environmental sustainability.