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Does digital governance matter for environmental sustainability? The key challenges and opportunities under the prism of natural resource management

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  • Huang, Chaoqun
  • Liu, Weibai
  • Iqbal, Wasim
  • Shah, Syed Ale Raza

Abstract

Since the Industrial Revolution, the globe has faced numerous challenges, but rising environmental pollution has become more prominent. Undoubtedly, the globe has tried to offer some green initiatives for environmental sustainability, but the problem remains intact. Under such green initiatives, this study introduces the key challenges and their best alternatives for environmental sustainability. For instance, this study considers income, population aging, industrial development, and natural resource consumption (NRS) as critical challenges for sustainability. However, digitalization (ICT), environmental policy, and natural resources protection (NRP) are considered the best alternatives to support the sustainability theme. However, this study utilizes the advanced series of estimators, i.e., the AMG, CCE-MG and CS-ARDL, to investigate the study objectives for most industrialized economies from 2000 to 2022. Investigated results show the positive contribution to environmental stress by income, population aging, NRs and industrial development. In contrast, digitalization and environmental policy significantly reduce environmental stress. In addition, this study performs aggregated & disaggregated analysis for different NRs measures, and the mineral resources only show a significant role in sustainability. Besides, under the comparative analysis between NRs consumption & protection for a sustainable environment and outcomes shows that NRs protection is the best strategy for dealing with environmental issues. Along with the main effect, this study explores the mediating effect of digitalization on environmental policy, industrial development, natural resource consumption & protection and finds their supportive response toward sustainability. However, the mediating role on natural resource protection and environmental policy shows very insightful results. Also, this study suggests core policies to become clean & green by 2030.

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  • Huang, Chaoqun & Liu, Weibai & Iqbal, Wasim & Shah, Syed Ale Raza, 2024. "Does digital governance matter for environmental sustainability? The key challenges and opportunities under the prism of natural resource management," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:91:y:2024:i:c:s030142072400179x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.104812
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