Many　scholars　recognize　that　information　and　communication　technology　(ICT)　plays　a　vital　role　in　addressing　environmental　challenges.　To　evaluate　ICT-driven　environmental　effects,　this　study　separates　ICT　into　service　exports　and　goods　exports.　It　examines　their　influence　on　greenhouse　gas　(GHG)　emissions　in　APEC　countries　from　2002　to　2022,　while　exploring　the　moderating　role　of　regulatory　quality　(RQ).　Results　show　that　ICT　service　exports　and　stricter　regulations　are　associated　with　increased　emissions,　whereas　ICT　goods　exports　reduce　emissions　and　support　climate　improvement.　The　interaction　between　regulation　and　ICT　sectors　reveals　contrasting　effects,　underscoring　the　need　for　sector-specific　policies.　Importantly,　the　findings　suggest　that　regulatory　frameworks　must　be　designed　to　encourage　greener　ICT　adoption　while　avoiding　unintended　emission　increases.　The　study　contributes　to　theory　and　practice,　offering　valuable　implications　for　advancing　Sustainable　Development　Goals　9　and　13,　namely　industry　innovation　and　infrastructure,　and　climate　action　in　the　APEC　region.