Utilities Policy ( IF 4 ) Pub Date : 2021-08-05 , DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2021.101256 Cosimo Magazzino 1 , Marco Mele 1 , Giovanna Morelli 2 , Nicolas Schneider 3
This paper examines the linkages among Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) penetration, electricity consumption, economic growth, urbanization, and environmental pollution for 25 OECD countries over the 1990–2017 period. We first conduct several panel data analyses and then write and apply a new Machine Learning (ML) algorithm. Empirical findings show that ICT usage enhances economic growth, and it is also a crucial driver of electricity consumption, which, in turn, translates into polluting emissions. The ML results highlight internet usage emerges as a substantial CO2 emissions-enabler, thus corroborating our panel data findings. Potential policy measures are discussed.
中文翻译:
信息技术与环境污染之间的关系:新机器学习算法在 OECD 国家的应用
本文研究了 1990 年至 2017 年期间 25 个经合组织国家的信息和通信技术 (ICT) 普及率、电力消耗、经济增长、城市化和环境污染之间的联系。我们首先进行几个面板数据分析,然后编写并应用新的机器学习 (ML) 算法。实证结果表明,ICT 的使用促进了经济增长,它也是电力消耗的关键驱动因素,而电力消耗反过来又转化为污染排放。ML 结果突出显示,互联网使用成为 CO 2排放的重要推动因素,从而证实了我们的面板数据发现。讨论了潜在的政策措施。