Eco-tech fusion: Unraveling the nonparametric causal effects of fintech, natural resources, digital infrastructure, and economic growth on environmental sustainability from a quantile perspective

Abstract

Environmental sustainability has the potential to uphold an ecological balance in the natural environment. Unfortunately, it is challenging due to the environment's multifaceted nature and the complex interlinkages of environment with social, economic, and technology-related factors. The current study inspects the causal effect of fintech, natural resource rent, digital infrastructure, and economic growth in relation to environmental sustainability. This study comprises the time frame of 2002–2022 in the BRICS nations. The "nonparametric causality-in quantiles approach" has been applied, which is an advanced econometric tool. The results confirm that all BRICS countries, i.e., Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, show a significant causal impact of the said predictors on sustainable environment in most cases. This study is significant for scholars, investors, policymakers, manufacturers, and environmental regulatory bodies.