Greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide (CO2), are the main cause of global warming, which is a serious threat to the development of countries. Islamic countries have rich fossil energy resources and their economic structure is dependent on their exports. The consumption of fossil fuels, especially in oil-exporting countries, is one of the main factors in increasing environmental pollution. Economic complexity is also an indicator of the diversity of products and the level of technology in the production structure, which, along with energy consumption and gross domestic product (GDP), has a decisive effect on the level of pollutant emissions.

The present study aims to analyze the impact of economic complexity, transportation and tourism (air travel), natural resource rent (surplus economic value of natural resources after deducting extraction costs), gross domestic product (GDP), and energy consumption on carbon dioxide emissions in 19 Islamic countries during the period 1995 to 2024 AD, using panel data and the PM G-NARLD method. Economic complexity, which is divided into two positive and negative parts, has an asymmetric effect on CO2 emissions. Increasing economic complexity has a reducing role on both groups of countries. The results show that economic complexity, governance, and renewable energy reduce CO2 emissions. Transparency and accountability of governments and a move towards the production of complex goods and diversification of products using complex technologies and the use of renewable energy, while increasing energy efficiency, reduce dependence on natural resource rents and provide the basis for reducing CO2 emissions.