A Sustainable Development Assessment for the Load Capacity Factor and Carbon Footprint in India: The Role of Information and Communication Technologies, Renewable Energy, and Structural Changes

Abstract

The increase in India's carbon emissions and the decline in its environmental quality are a threat to the realization of the global sustainable development goals (SDGs). Minimizing the negative environmental impacts from fossil fuels through analysis of the determinants of India's ecological quality is an important research topic. The objective of this study is to examine the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT), renewable energy, and structural changes on environmental quality in India. In this context, the study uses the novel Fourier quantile causality test for the period 1995m1-2021m12. The results of the study show that structural changes have no impact on carbon footprint and load capacity factor, while renewable energy and ICT contribute to the improvement of environmental quality. Based on the findings of the study, the Indian government is recommended to rise investment in ICT and renewable energy to pursue a growth strategy in line with the SDGs.