China＇s　natural　resources　are　a　major　factor　in　its　rapid　financial　development.　In　this　race　of　development,　the　environment　is　compromised　and　China　became　the　top　polluted　country　in　the　world.　A　sustainable　environment　is　required　for　sustainable　development.　Unlike　others,　we　examine　CO2　emissions　and　ecological　footprint　(EFP)　to　compare　the　role　of　natural　resource　rents　(NRR),　consumer　prices　(CP),　financial　development　(FD),　and　population　density　(PD)　in　China.　To　empirically　estimate　the　proposed　linkages,　the　latest　econometric　techniques　are　used　i.　e,　“Stationarity　and　co-integration　tests　with　structural　breaks　and　the　autoregressive　distributed　lag　models”.　Findings　report　U-shaped　Environmental　Kuznets　Curve　(EKC)　for　CO2　emissions　and　EFP,　which　means　GDP　is　helping　to　control　CO2　emissions　and　EFP　in　China.　However,　natural　resources,　consumer　prices,　and　population　density　are　increasing　environmental　degradation.　Moreover,　financial　development　is　helpful　to　decrease　carbon　emissions　and　ecological　footprints.　China　needs　to　re-consider　the　policy　regarding　consumer　prices,　dense　inhabitant　population　and　use　of　natural　resources.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd