| Abstract: |
Understanding the role of information communication and technology (ICT) in
environmental issues stemming from extensive energy consumption and carbon
dioxide emission in the process of economic development is worthwhile both
from policy and scholarly fronts. Motivated on this premise, the study
contributes to the rising studies associated with the roles economic growth,
institutional quality and information and communication technology (ICT) have
on CO2emissionin the framework of the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21)
on climate convention in Paris. Obtaining data from the emerging
industrialized seven (E7) economies (China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Mexico,
Brazil and Turkey) covering annual frequency from 1995 –2016 for our
analysis achieved significant outcome. From the empirical analysis, economic
globalization and renewable energy consumption both reduce CO2 emissions while
ICT, institutional quality and fossil fuel contribute to the degradation of
the environment. This study affirms the presence of an Environmental Kuznets
Curve (EKC) phenomenon which shows an invented U-Shaped curve within the E7
economies. On the causality front, both income and its square have a feedback
causal relationship with carbon emissions while economic globalization,
institutional quality, ICT and clean energy all have a one-way directional
causal relationship with CO2 emissions. Conclusively, the need to reduce
environmental degradation activities should be pursued by the blocs such as
tree planting activities to mitigate the effect of deforestation. Furthermore,
the bloc should shift from the use of fossil-fuel and leverage on ICT to
enhance the use of clean energy which is environmentally friendly. |