The rising carbon dioxide emissions from the MENA region constitute a severe danger to the environment, public health, and the execution of the United Nations SDGs. Substantial steps are required to solve this problem and maintain the region’s sustainable future. Hence, the current study focused on distinct factors, including renewable energy, energy intensity, green innovation, GDP, and CO2 emissions from 1990 to 2021. The research determines the multifarious variables in various quantiles, including the novel Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) approach, Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FM-OLS), Dynamic Ordinary Least Square (D-OLS) and Driscoll-Kraay Standard Errors (DKS) applied. The findings reveal that renewable energy significantly reduces carbon emissions in all quantiles, while energy intensity, green innovation, and GDP lead to carbon emissions in lower, middle, and upper quantiles. For robust outcome confirmed by FM-OLS, D-OLS, and DKS methods. Also, Granger heterogeneous causality applied that confirmed the bidirectional causality among the variables. The study’s findings imply that authorities should emphasize the emergence of renewable energy and green innovation while adopting energy-efficient technologies to minimize carbon emissions and accomplish SDGs 7, 9, and 13 to secure the MENA region.