<p>The study examines the relationship between carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, innovation and technological support (ITS), environmental taxation schemes (ETS), foreign direct investment (FDI), and environmental policy stringency (EPS) in China, using data from 1980 to 2024. The analysis applies quantitative techniques, including correlation diagnostics and graphical distribution tests, to determine the direction and strength of linear correlations among the variables. The findings demonstrate that there is a negative relationship between the CO₂ emissions and ITS with a strong negative association; the CO₂ and EPS have moderate negative association indicating that EPS and technological development may be a factor of mitigation of emissions. ITS is highly and significantly correlated with ETS, which shows alignment between the policies and technology, whereas ETS exhibits a significant negative association with FDI, suggesting the possibility of investment sensitivity to the intensity of regulations. FDI, on the other hand, is positively related to the EPS to moderate extents, indicating the existence of environmental policy-related designs and long-term inflows of investment. The results underline the high levels of interdependence between policy tools, technological advancement, and investment dynamics and have significant implications on integrated environmental governance. This research contributes to the sustainable development literature by providing empirical evidence on the interaction between environmental regulation, innovation capacity and capital flows. The policy implications emphasize the need of coordinated regulatory frameworks that promote green innovation while maintaining investment attractiveness and supporting long term carbon reduction goals aligned with cleaner production pathways.</p>