Analisis Jejak Karbon Aktivitas Ekonomi Berbasis Platform Digital di Negara Berkembang

Muhammad Faizul; Rani Fadhalia; Riska Marta Hukmi

doi:10.70716/tres.v1i2.364

Authors

Muhammad Faizul Program Studi Teknik Lingkungan, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Indonesia
Rani Fadhalia Program Studi Teknik Lingkungan, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Indonesia
Riska Marta Hukmi Program Studi Teknik Lingkungan, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70716/tres.v1i2.364

Keywords:

carbon footprint, digital economy, digital platforms, developing countries, environmental sustainability

Abstract

The expansion of digital platform-based economic activities has become a major driver of economic growth in developing countries. However, their environmental implications, particularly in relation to carbon footprints, remain complex. This study aims to analyze the carbon footprint of digital platform-based economic activities in developing countries by examining the roles of information and communication technology infrastructure, data-intensive digital activities, platform-based transportation, and the dynamics of the digital economy and the gig economy. This study employs a quantitative approach using a cross-country empirical design based on panel data. The analysis examines the relationship between digital economy intensity and carbon emissions and identifies the mechanisms influencing this relationship. The results indicate that at early stages of digital economy development, increased platform-based activity is associated with higher carbon emissions due to rising energy consumption in digital infrastructure and transportation sectors. However, at more advanced levels of digitalization, platform-based economic activities have the potential to reduce carbon emission intensity through efficiency gains, technological innovation, and optimization of economic processes. These findings demonstrate that the environmental impact of the digital economy is conditional and strongly influenced by energy structures, infrastructure quality, and policy frameworks in developing countries. This study contributes by proposing an integrated analytical framework to understand the relationship between the platform economy and carbon footprints. The policy implications emphasize the importance of integrating digital economic development with energy transition strategies and low-carbon development pathways to ensure long-term environmental sustainability.

References

Belkhir, L., & Elmeligi, A. (2018). Assessing ICT global emissions footprint: Trends to 2040 & recommendations. Journal of Cleaner Production, 177, 448–463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.12.239

Chen, T. D., Kockelman, K. M., & Hanna, J. P. (2016). Operations of a shared, autonomous, electric vehicle fleet: Implications of vehicle and charging infrastructure decisions. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 94, 243–254.

Dara, S., Rehman, M. H., & Iqbal, F. (2022). Recommendations for ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence. Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, 5, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3389/frai.2022.865559

Ferrer, A. L. C., Thomé, A. M. T., Scavarda, A. J., & Seuring, S. (2023). Carbon emissions in transportation: A synthesis framework for mitigation strategies. Sustainability, 15(3), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032091

He, X., Wang, Y., & Li, J. (2025). How e-commerce drives low-carbon development: Evidence from emerging economies. Sustainability, 17(2), 1–18.

Hintemann, R., Hinterholzer, S., & Noll, T. (2020). Energy demand of video streaming—Trends, challenges, and opportunities. Energies, 13(10), 2454. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13102454

Lange, S., Pohl, J., & Santarius, T. (2020). Digitalization and energy consumption: Does ICT reduce energy demand? Ecological Economics, 176, 106760.

Li, X., Wang, Q., & Zhang, Y. (2024). Impact of digital trade on lowering carbon emissions in countries at different development levels. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-xxxxx

Liu, K., Sun, X., & Zhao, Y. (2023). Examining the role of digitalization and the gig economy in low-carbon development. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1187342

Lyu, Y., Chen, S., & Wang, L. (2023). Does digital economy development reduce carbon emission intensity? Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 11, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1142267

Lyu, Y., Zhang, H., & Liu, Z. (2024). The impacts of digital value chain embeddedness on trade-related carbon emissions intensity. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 12, 1–14.

Malmodin, J., & Lundén, D. (2018). The energy and carbon footprint of the global ICT and entertainment and media sectors 2010–2015. Sustainability, 10(9), 3027. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10093027

Mustafa, S., Abbas, S., & Jamil, F. (2022). Digital consumer behavior and eco-friendly products in developing countries. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.873451

Preist, C., Schien, D., & Blevis, E. (2016). Understanding and mitigating the effects of device and cloud service design decisions on the environmental footprint of digital infrastructure. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 1(CSCW), 1–22.

Systematic Review Consortium. (2024). Impacts of ride-hailing services on energy consumption and the environment: A systematic review. Sustainability, 16(4), 1–27.

Wood, A. J., Graham, M., Lehdonvirta, V., & Hjorth, I. (2019). Good gig, bad gig: Autonomy and algorithmic control in the global gig economy. Work, Employment and Society, 33(1), 56–75.

Zhang, Z., Li, Y., & Chen, X. (2024). Digital economy development and carbon emissions: Evidence from cross-country panel data. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 1–11.

Zhang, Z., Wang, H., & Liu, Y. (2025). Carbon emission reduction benefits of electrifying ride-hailing vehicles: Evidence from developing cities. Applied Energy, 355, 121987.