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Decarbonizing Through Innovation: The Role of AI Investment in Reducing CO 2 Emissions in the Top AI-Investing Economies

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  • Cemal Egemen

    (Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, European University of Lefke, 99010 Lefke, Northern Cyprus, Turkey)

  • Dervis Kirikkaleli

    (Department of Economics, Adnan Kassar School of Business, Lebanese American University, Beirut 1102, Lebanon
    Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, European University of Lefke, 99010 Lefke, Northern Cyprus, Turkey)

Abstract

This research explores the effect of artificial intelligence (AI) investment on carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions relating to worldwide industrialization and environmental concerns. CO 2 emissions have risen due to fossil fuel usage, leading to global warming, environmental degradation, and climate change. While most previous studies have concentrated on components such as economic progress, energy consumption, and technological improvement, little attention has been given to the impact of artificial intelligence on the levels of carbon dioxide emissions. Artificial intelligence technology enables systems to perform complicated duties including reasoning and decision making. This article intends to fill this research gap by examining the impact of AI on carbon emissions in the eight highest AI-investing countries (the USA, China, the United Kingdom, Israel, Germany, India, Canada, and Korea) from 2012 to 2022. OECD data on average trade, AI investment, and consumption-based CO 2 emissions were analyzed in this study. The Augmented Mean Group (AMG) approach was employed to analyze the study findings, with the results showing that GDP had a beneficial influence on CO 2 emissions in the Top AI-Investing Economies. The results also showed that AI investment and trade had adverse impacts on CO 2 emissions. The findings supported the idea that investment on AI has a positive impact on decreasing CO 2 emissions, thus leading to a more sustainable environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Cemal Egemen & Dervis Kirikkaleli, 2026. "Decarbonizing Through Innovation: The Role of AI Investment in Reducing CO 2 Emissions in the Top AI-Investing Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-13, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:18:y:2026:i:13:p:6901-:d:1985236
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