Dual green innovation capability, environmental regulation intensity, and high-quality economic development in China: Can green and growth go together?

• The study investigates the symbiotic relationship between green innovation, environmental regulation, and high-quality economic development in China. • It emphasizes the dual role of green innovation—exploitative for immediate benefits and exploratory for long-term sustainability—in promoting economic growth. • The research examines how environmental regulations influence the effectiveness of green innovation strategies on economic development. • Through empirical analysis, the paper presents region-specific outcomes, showing variations in the impact of green innovations across different areas. • It offers policy recommendations to enhance the synergy between green innovation and environmental regulations for sustainable economic progress. This study explores the interplay between dual green innovation, environmental regulation, and high-quality economic development in China, examining whether these elements can coexist harmoniously. It investigates the dual role of exploitative and exploratory green innovations in fostering sustainable economic growth and how environmental regulations might influence this relationship. Through empirical analysis, the paper assesses the impact of green innovation on high-quality development and the moderating effects of environmental regulations, offering insights into region-specific outcomes and policy implications for sustainable economic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]