Exploring the Impact of FinTech and IT Management on Sustainability: Evidence from the United States Using ARDL Analysis

This research analyzes the intricate connections among gross domestic product (GDP), information and communication technology (ICT) use for financial inclusion, energy conservation, urbanization, and their cumulative effect on carbon emissions in the United States from 1990 to 2022. Using unit root tests to examine the non-stationarity of key factors, the study employs the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method to explore both short- and long-term dynamics. The results reveal that GDP expansion and urbanization negatively impact environmental health, suggesting that increased financial activities and urban population growth contribute to higher pollution levels due to greater fossil fuel consumption and resource exploitation. Conversely, ICT adoption, financial accessibility (FA), and energy efficiency (EE) exhibit a negative link with CO 2 emissions, indicating that advancements in technology, sustainable financing, and renewable energy integration could enhance US environmental sustainability. The pairwise causality test shows one-way causality from GDP, EE, access to finance, and ICT to CO 2 emissions, with no proof of inverse causality. A bidirectional causal link between urbanization and CO 2 emissions adds to the significance of urban development in shaping climatic results. These outcomes underscore the necessities of ICT application, FA, and green energy investments for promoting ecological sustainability. Policymakers can use these insights to create targeted strategies that strike a balance between technological innovation, financial stability, and responsible urbanization, helping to reduce biodiversity loss and promote a cleaner, more sustainable future.