Empirical linkages between ICT, tourism, and trade towards sustainable environment: evidence from BRICS countries

Empirical linkages between ICT, tourism, and trade towards sustainable environment: evidence from BRICS countries
Authors: Syed Zeeshan Zafar, Qiao Zhilin, Fatma Mabrouk, Edwin Ramirez-Asis, Haitham M. Alzoubi, Sanil S. Hishan
Journal: Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja
Volume & Issue: Volume 36, Issue 2
Published: October 17, 2022

This study investigates the relationships between information and communication technologies (ICT), tourism, trade, economic growth, and environmental sustainability in BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—over the period 1990–2019. Using cross-sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lags (CS-ARDL), the research assesses both short-run and long-run impacts of these factors on ecological outcomes.

The findings indicate that ICT plays a positive role in reducing carbon emissions and promoting environmental sustainability, while tourism, trade, and economic growth exert adverse pressures on natural ecosystems. In the short run, tourism and economic growth continue to affect environmental health negatively, whereas trade has an insignificant impact.

The study highlights the need for integrating ICT developments with trade and tourism sectors to mitigate environmental degradation and foster greener practices. It also emphasizes the importance of promoting sustainable tourism policies, incentivizing environmentally friendly behaviors among tourists, and adopting ecological innovations to convert economic growth and trade into sustainable outcomes. Despite limitations in sample selection, cross-country comparison, and reliance on a single environmental proxy, the research provides critical insights for policymakers, environmental stakeholders, and community members in BRICS nations, offering guidance on balancing economic development with ecological protection.