The pursuit of sustainable development amid rapid economic expansion presents a critical challenge for emerging economies. Focusing on Bangladesh, this study examines the impact of CO₂ emissions, renewable energy consumption, and participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on economic growth from 1990 to 2021. To assess these relationships, we apply an augmented Cobb-Douglas production framework alongside ARDL and Granger causality techniques. The analysis yields three key findings. First, environmental degradation from CO₂ emissions presents a significant barrier to long-term growth, reinforcing the urgency of decarbonization. Second, renewable energy adoption exerts a negative economic effect, limited by high costs and operational inefficiencies. Third, while BRI infrastructure investments offer short-term economic benefits, they may compromise long-term sustainability. Together, these findings underscore the need for policymakers to align infrastructure investment, energy transition, and emissions reduction within a framework of sound governance. Achieving sustainable development will depend on integrated energy strategies, renegotiated international partnerships grounded in green financing, and more selective criteria for BRI project approval.

CO₂ Emissions, Renewable Energy, BRI, Economic Growth, Bangladesh