Exploring the influence of digital technology innovation on air quality: Insights from developed and developing economies

• Digital technology innovation significantly decreases air pollution across 85 economies from 2001 to 2022. • Adoption of green energy and better governance also contribute to lower air pollution. • Economic growth correlates with higher air pollution levels. • Results are validated through Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) and quantile regression analyses. • Digital technology innovation's impact on reducing pollution is more pronounced at higher pollution levels. Progress in digital technology innovation (DTI) and its adoption in socioeconomic spheres of life emphasizes the need to explore whether it contributes to sustainability. This study examined the significant role of DTI and other key factors in reducing emissions across 85 developed and developing economies. Pooled regression and Generalized Least Squares (GLS) estimates showed that DTI significantly reduced air pollution. Moreover, green energy, governance, and economic-social performance are key contributors to air pollution reduction. These findings are insightful for informed environmental decision-making and open avenues for future research on how DTI interacts with other key environmental pollution factors.