Sustainable Information and Communication Technologies: A Critical Query for CO2 Emissions in Panel Countries

In the context of a sustainable environment, innovative information and communication technology solutions are not only an important tool for reducing the carbon footprint in the fight against global warming and climate change, but they also contribute to globalization. Using Comtrade data, this study analyzes the relationship between exports of information and communication technologies and carbon emissions in selected countries for the years 1993-2014. The study uses two models. The dependent variable of the first model is carbon emissions and that of the second model is carbon emissions from electricity and heat generation. First, a Westerlund cointegration test, a cross-sectional dependence test, and a fully modified least squares test were conducted, followed by a panel causality analysis. The results showed that exports of information and communication technology services, individual internet use, and per capita gross domestic product increased carbon dioxide emissions, and there was no causal relationship between carbon dioxide emissions from electricity and heat generation, carbon dioxide emissions, and trade.