Achieving environmental sustainability, particularly the targets outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action), is a critical global imperative. This investigation analyzes the heterogeneous effects of artificial intelligence (AI), tourism intensity, tourism expenditure, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) share contributed by tourism, natural resource rents, and environmental policy stringency on the ecological footprints of advanced countries from 2000 to 2022. Using a robust analytical framework featuring advanced econometric methods, specifically the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) and an innovative machine learning approach—Panel Quantile-on-Quantile Kernel-Based Regularized Least Squares (PQQKRLS)—the research elucidates complex, nonlinear interdependencies. Key empirical results show that AI adoption significantly mitigates ecological footprints across all quantile distributions. Conversely, heightened tourism intensity and increased tourism expenditure are associated with greater environmental degradation. The analysis further indicates a U-shaped tourism–ecological footprint relationship, suggesting that tourism’s economic contribution may initially reduce ecological pressure but may increase it again beyond a certain expansion threshold. These conclusions underscore the necessity for advanced nations to adopt synergistic policy frameworks that strategically leverage AI technologies, promote sustainable tourism practices, and reinforce rigorous environmental governance to advance climate action and ecological sustainability.

The study's main aim is to highlight the challenges in online business in Pakistan. Apart from the challenges, some other factors, buyers' perceptions, preferences, experiences, and online shopping frequency, were also studied. For this purpose, the research was conducted in the South Punjab region of Pakistan, and the sample consisted of 48 business students from the public university named Bahauddin Zakariya University. Exploratory research was employed, and questionnaires were delivered through the mail. The response rate remained at 70%, which was quite acceptable. Of the 34 respondents, 21 were male students, and the responses were analyzed using content analysis techniques. The results showed that buyers preferred online business because of its convenience. However, they hesitated due to trust issues that a review and rating system could mitigate. Understanding the nuances of online business challenges and exploring the barriers to the seamless adoption of online business in Pakistan is imperative to unlocking the full potential of e-commerce as a driver of economic growth. It provides valuable insights for decision-making for policymakers, businesses, and consumers but is also helpful for researchers interested in developing innovative solutions, improving consumer experiences, and conducting consumer research.