From Clicks to Clean Energy: Assessing the Role of Fintech, Carbon Emissions, Renewable Energy, and Environmental Quality in Shaping Public Health Across BRICS Economies

ABSTRACT Aligning financial inclusion with environmental sustainability and public health objectives remains a critical challenge for emerging economies. This study investigates whether financial inclusion can improve child health outcomes through environmental quality improvements in BRICS economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) over the period 2001–2023. Using commercial bank branches per 100,000 adults as a proxy for financial inclusion, the study employs panel fixed‐effects estimation, mediation analysis, and multiple robustness techniques (random effects, GLS, and Driscoll–Kraay standard errors) to examine both direct and indirect transmission mechanisms. The empirical findings reveal that greater financial inclusion significantly increases renewable energy consumption while reducing carbon dioxide emissions and PM2.5 air pollution. Improved environmental quality, in turn, significantly lowers infant and under‐five mortality rates. Mediation results confirm that environmental factors partially transmit the beneficial effects of financial inclusion to public health outcomes. These results remain robust across alternative model specifications. From a policy perspective, the findings suggest that expanding financial access can generate a triple dividend by supporting clean energy transition, reducing environmental degradation, and improving population health. Integrating financial inclusion strategies with green finance instruments, environmental regulation, and public health policies is therefore essential for achieving Sustainable Development Goals related to clean energy, climate action, and child health in emerging economies.