Internet of Things’ sustainability effects: quantile and temporal insights

Abstract As an important technological advancement driving the fourth industrial revolution, the Internet of Things (IOT) has gained increasing attention for its profound economic and societal impacts. However, in the context of escalating challenges in climate change, its effects on environmental s...

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Main Authors: Chao Li, Wenyu Lao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2025-03-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04665-7
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author Chao Li
Wenyu Lao
author_facet Chao Li
Wenyu Lao
author_sort Chao Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract As an important technological advancement driving the fourth industrial revolution, the Internet of Things (IOT) has gained increasing attention for its profound economic and societal impacts. However, in the context of escalating challenges in climate change, its effects on environmental sustainability await systematic analysis. Therefore, this paper aims to thoroughly analyze these effects and explore how to promote sustainability more effectively in the process of advancing applications of IOT. This paper employs the Multiscale Wavelet-Based Quantile-on-Quantile approach to investigate the dynamic impact of IOT on sustainability from the perspectives of carbon emissions and air quality across different quantile levels. Results demonstrate that IOT generally exerts negative effects on carbon emissions, which are particularly pronounced in the higher quantiles of emissions. However, this impact is not significant at lower development levels of IOT while reducing carbon emissions as the technology matures. From a dynamic perspective, in the short term, the impact of IOT on carbon emissions is not significant. Nevertheless, in the medium to long term, its carbon reduction effect becomes increasingly pronounced. In comparison, IOT’s impact on air pollution is more heterogeneous. At lower pollution levels, IOT tends to improve air quality, whereas at higher quantiles of pollution, IOT exacerbates it. Besides, the negative effect of IOT on air quality becomes gradually apparent in the medium term, while insignificant in the short term. In the long run, IOT’s influence on air pollution fluctuates significantly. These findings suggest that flexible, scientific, and targeted measures should be scientifically formulated accounting for regional variations and development stages to advance sustainability in applying IOT.
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spelling doaj-art-6d0d2016e27d4edba930594207d076802025-08-20T03:41:49ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-03-0112112210.1057/s41599-025-04665-7Internet of Things’ sustainability effects: quantile and temporal insightsChao Li0Wenyu Lao1Centre for Quality of Life and Public Policy Research, Shandong UniversityBusiness School, Shandong UniversityAbstract As an important technological advancement driving the fourth industrial revolution, the Internet of Things (IOT) has gained increasing attention for its profound economic and societal impacts. However, in the context of escalating challenges in climate change, its effects on environmental sustainability await systematic analysis. Therefore, this paper aims to thoroughly analyze these effects and explore how to promote sustainability more effectively in the process of advancing applications of IOT. This paper employs the Multiscale Wavelet-Based Quantile-on-Quantile approach to investigate the dynamic impact of IOT on sustainability from the perspectives of carbon emissions and air quality across different quantile levels. Results demonstrate that IOT generally exerts negative effects on carbon emissions, which are particularly pronounced in the higher quantiles of emissions. However, this impact is not significant at lower development levels of IOT while reducing carbon emissions as the technology matures. From a dynamic perspective, in the short term, the impact of IOT on carbon emissions is not significant. Nevertheless, in the medium to long term, its carbon reduction effect becomes increasingly pronounced. In comparison, IOT’s impact on air pollution is more heterogeneous. At lower pollution levels, IOT tends to improve air quality, whereas at higher quantiles of pollution, IOT exacerbates it. Besides, the negative effect of IOT on air quality becomes gradually apparent in the medium term, while insignificant in the short term. In the long run, IOT’s influence on air pollution fluctuates significantly. These findings suggest that flexible, scientific, and targeted measures should be scientifically formulated accounting for regional variations and development stages to advance sustainability in applying IOT.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04665-7
spellingShingle Chao Li
Wenyu Lao
Internet of Things’ sustainability effects: quantile and temporal insights
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title Internet of Things’ sustainability effects: quantile and temporal insights
title_full Internet of Things’ sustainability effects: quantile and temporal insights
title_fullStr Internet of Things’ sustainability effects: quantile and temporal insights
title_full_unstemmed Internet of Things’ sustainability effects: quantile and temporal insights
title_short Internet of Things’ sustainability effects: quantile and temporal insights
title_sort internet of things sustainability effects quantile and temporal insights
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04665-7
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AT wenyulao internetofthingssustainabilityeffectsquantileandtemporalinsights