Unveiling the linkages among digital technology, economic growth, and carbon emissions: A resource management perspective

The heavy reliance of industry on harmful gases is a direct cause of extensive pollution in the atmosphere. This has severe and adverse effects on both human health and the environment. This study aims to explore the impact of women entrepreneurship, digital technology, and economic growth on carbon dioxide emissions in India, with the aim of understanding how these factors interrelate and influence sustainability efforts. The study employs the dynamic ARDL (DYARDL) model and the KRLS machine learning algorithm to identify the relationship between these variables in India. The results indicate that women entrepreneurship has a negative effect on carbon dioxide emissions. The study reveals that women entrepreneurs often operate in sectors that are less energy-intensive and have lower emissions compared to sectors traditionally dominated by men. Therefore, their involvement may contribute positively to overall sustainability efforts. Furthermore, the study also reveals the positive effect of digital technology and economic growth on CO2 emissions. As digital technology advances and economic growth accelerates, energy consumption and production tend to result in higher CO2 emissions. This finding underscores the need for sustainable industrial technology practices and policies to mitigate the environmental impact. The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of women's entrepreneurship in sustainability initiatives and suggests that increasing women's participation in low environmental impact sectors can significantly contribute to achieving sustainability goals. Additionally, it highlights the need to adopt sustainable digital technologies and implement policies that promote energy efficiency and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.