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The aim of this study is to investigate the role of information and communication technol ogy (ICT) and human capital development on environmental degradation (CO2) using the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework in line with the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP21). Five South Asian countries namely: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were considered in the context of the present study between the annual time period of 1990 to 2016. Pedroni cointegration test and Kao’s residual coin tegration test are used to assess long term relationship while Dumitrescu and Harlin (Econ Model 29:1450–1460, 2012) is used to test causality relationship between the variables. Empirical fndings from the study showed signifcant efects of ICT import, renewable energy usage and human development decrease CO2 levels while ICT export and urbaniza tion increase carbon emission levels in the long run. Furthermore, a signifcantly positive association is observed between economic growth and CO2 emission while the square of national income exerts a signifcantly negative efect on environmental degradation, which supports the EKC for the South Asian states. From a practical implication context, policy makers should not only concentrate on their economic growth trajectory improvement but also enhance the improvement of their ICT infrastructure, invest more in renewable energy sources, follow policies that would help the countries to raise human development stand ards, as well as consciousness for environmental sustainability should be pursued

The aim of this study is to investigate the role of information and communication technol ogy (ICT) and human capital development on environmental degradation (CO2) using the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework in line with the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP21). Five South Asian countries namely: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were considered in the context of the present study between the annual time period of 1990 to 2016. Pedroni cointegration test and Kao’s residual coin tegration test are used to assess long term relationship while Dumitrescu and Harlin (Econ Model 29:1450–1460, 2012) is used to test causality relationship between the variables. Empirical fndings from the study showed signifcant efects of ICT import, renewable energy usage and human development decrease CO2 levels while ICT export and urbaniza tion increase carbon emission levels in the long run. Furthermore, a signifcantly positive association is observed between economic growth and CO2 emission while the square of national income exerts a signifcantly negative efect on environmental degradation, which supports the EKC for the South Asian states. From a practical implication context, policy makers should not only concentrate on their economic growth trajectory improvement but also enhance the improvement of their ICT infrastructure, invest more in renewable energy sources, follow policies that would help the countries to raise human development stand ards, as well as consciousness for environmental sustainability should be pursued