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Assessing the impact of digitalization, geography, and digital mobility on air pollution in Europe & Central Asia: A climate change perspective.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Assessing the impact of digitalization, geography, and digital mobility on air pollution in Europe & Central Asia: A climate change perspective.
Authors: Shahzad U; Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development, Henan University, China. Electronic address: umer5437@gmail.com., Miao C; Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development, Henan University, China. Electronic address: chhmiao@henu.edu.cn.
Source: The Science of the total environment [Sci Total Environ] 2025 Oct 25; Vol. 1001, pp. 180507. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Sep 18.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 0330500 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1879-1026 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00489697 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Sci Total Environ Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: Amsterdam, Elsevier.
MeSH Terms: Air Pollution*/statistics & numerical data , Climate Change* , Environmental Monitoring* , Digital Technology*, Europe ; Asia, Central ; Geography ; Air Pollutants/analysis
Abstract: Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Air pollution has increasingly become a significant driver of global warming, particularly due to the rapid expansion of industrial activities and unsustainable urbanization. This study aims to examine the influence of digitalization, digital mobility, and geography on air pollution across 40 European & Central Asian countries, using Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSEs) to analyze panel data from 1995 to 2023. The findings reveal that, individually, digitalization, digital mobility, and geographical factors significantly contribute to increased air pollution levels in the region, resulting in rising temperatures and posing serious risks to human health and the environment. Notably, while underdeveloped digital infrastructure may amplify the environmental burden-particularly when compounded by geographic constraints-advanced digitalization can mitigate pollution through more efficient digital mobility and cleaner technologies. Moreover, the threshold effect suggests that digitalization must reach a sufficient level to mitigate effectively or potentially exacerbate the intensifying impact of digital mobility and geographical constraints on air pollution. Additionally, the analysis finds bidirectional causality between air pollution and the main explanatory variables: digitalization, digital mobility, and geography. Conversely, control variables such as fixed capital formation and GDP are associated with reductions in air pollution, while final consumption and population growth are found to exacerbate it. Policymakers are encouraged to leverage digital transformation not only for economic growth but also as a strategic tool to combat climate change and support sustainable development.
(Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Air pollution; Digital mobility; Digitalization; Geography
Substance Nomenclature: 0 (Air Pollutants)
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20250919 Date Completed: 20251019 Latest Revision: 20251019
Update Code: 20251020
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180507
PMID: 40972192
Database: MEDLINE
Description
Abstract:Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.<br />Air pollution has increasingly become a significant driver of global warming, particularly due to the rapid expansion of industrial activities and unsustainable urbanization. This study aims to examine the influence of digitalization, digital mobility, and geography on air pollution across 40 European & Central Asian countries, using Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSEs) to analyze panel data from 1995 to 2023. The findings reveal that, individually, digitalization, digital mobility, and geographical factors significantly contribute to increased air pollution levels in the region, resulting in rising temperatures and posing serious risks to human health and the environment. Notably, while underdeveloped digital infrastructure may amplify the environmental burden-particularly when compounded by geographic constraints-advanced digitalization can mitigate pollution through more efficient digital mobility and cleaner technologies. Moreover, the threshold effect suggests that digitalization must reach a sufficient level to mitigate effectively or potentially exacerbate the intensifying impact of digital mobility and geographical constraints on air pollution. Additionally, the analysis finds bidirectional causality between air pollution and the main explanatory variables: digitalization, digital mobility, and geography. Conversely, control variables such as fixed capital formation and GDP are associated with reductions in air pollution, while final consumption and population growth are found to exacerbate it. Policymakers are encouraged to leverage digital transformation not only for economic growth but also as a strategic tool to combat climate change and support sustainable development.<br /> (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
ISSN:1879-1026
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180507