<p>The connection between natural resource rent (NRR) and carbon emissions is critical in addressing environmental sustainability. The current study reveals this relationship by introducing governance and environmental tax as a moderator for a sample of emerging Asian economies from 1996 to 2021. The aspect of governance is measured by constructing a simple composite index, based on six dimensions. The results of quantile regression suggest that NRR increase environmental degradation across all the quantiles, while green technology, governance and environmental tax appear as crucial policy instruments in diminishing carbon emissions. Moreover, it is observed that unconditional negative consequences of NRR can be averted through strong governance and environmental taxes, as the conditional effects are found to be significant in mitigating carbon emissions. Hence, it is concluded that effective management through government in enforcing regulations and implementing environmental penalties can serve as an important tool in lessening environmental damage. Additionally, the benefits of NRR on the environment are dependent on the level of effective government and environmental tax strategies because these policies not only offset the adverse impact but also help in alleviating carbon emissions.</p>