Environmental sustainability in Asian economies: The role of ICT trade, energy transition, and sustainable development

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Article ID: 791
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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18686/cest791

Keywords:

ICT-trade openness; renewable energy consumption; energy efficiency; clean cooking fuel access; sustainable development; environmental quality; Asian countries

Abstract

This study examines the determinants of environmental pressure in selected Asian economies, with a focus on the roles of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) trade openness, energy intensity, renewable energy consumption, access to clean cooking fuels, and sustainable development. Using a balanced panel dataset and estimation techniques robust to cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity, namely Panel Corrected Standard Errors and Feasible Generalized Least Squares, CO₂ emissions per capita are employed as a proxy for environmental pressure. The empirical results indicate a differentiated pattern of environmental dynamics. The ICT trade is found to be negatively associated with emissions, suggesting that technological diffusion improves production efficiency and reduces environmental pressure. In contrast, energy intensity exhibits a strong positive relationship with emissions, confirming that inefficient energy use remains a central driver of environmental degradation. Renewable energy consumption shows a positive association with emissions, reflecting the dominance of scale effects and the limited substitution away from fossil fuels in the early stages of energy transition. Access to clean cooking fuels contributes to lower emissions, highlighting the importance of household-level energy transition. Sustainable development is also associated with reduced environmental pressure, although its effect appears gradual and context-dependent. The findings suggest that environmental sustainability in Asian economies depends on the interaction between technological openness, energy structure, and structural transformation. Policies should prioritize improving energy efficiency, ensuring effective substitution toward clean energy, strengthening absorptive capacity for technological adoption, and promoting inclusive access to modern energy services.

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Published

2026-04-24

How to Cite

Phong, P. V., Dung, P. M., Lieu, L. V., & Tay, N. C. (2026). Environmental sustainability in Asian economies: The role of ICT trade, energy transition, and sustainable development. Clean Energy Science and Technology, 4(3). https://doi.org/10.18686/cest791

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Vol. 4 No. 3 (2026): In progress

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Article

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Copyright (c) 2026 Pham Van Phong, Pham My Dung, Luong Van Lieu, Nguyen Cong Tay

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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