Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) can support low-carbon development (LCD). However, no empirical review exists to consolidate the existing evidence base and inform practitioners, policymakers and scholars. This paper reviews prior empirical studies on SEA–LCD integration, identifies research gaps and develops a future research agenda. A narrative literature review was employed. Results reveal that only nine studies have been reported to date. They all demonstrate inconsistent and inadequate treatment of LCD. Most studies lack defined theories, focus on Global North countries, ignore SEA’s strategic characteristics and use SEA reports for data. The review culminates in a future research agenda that should lead to novel and significant contributions to the literature. It also highlights policy implications, focussing on the need for (1) high-level policy commitment to address LCD within SEA, (2) operational guidance and legal and regulatory structures to enable practice and (3) policy incentives for conducting, disseminating and applying research.

The analysis of innovation, natural resource consumption, and eco-efficiency is widely discussed in firm-level studies. However, there is little literature on the assessment of eco-efficiency and its determinants in the macroeconomic framework. This study focuses on the empirical estimation of the eco-efficiency index with and without undesirable output at the aggregate level using a non-radial, non-oriented slack-based model (SBM) with the help of data envelopment analysis (DEA). SBM-DEA reveals that the level of eco-efficiency falls by incorporating undesirable output. The system generalised method of moments (GMM) applied to the panel data from 116 developed and developing countries for the period 2010–2019 to identify the determinants of eco-efficiency. The findings of system GMM show that innovation has a dynamic impact on eco-efficiency in developed and developing countries compared to natural resource consumption which adversely impacts it. The study also confirms exports and foreign direct investment (FDI) as an integral determinant of eco-efficiency. The findings confirm the ecological modernization theory which assures improvement in environmental quality due to innovation. The findings suggest that innovation and conservation of natural resources promote eco-efficiency in developed and developing countries.

This paper aims to determine the dynamic influence of provincial tourism development on carbon emissions and ecological efficiency in China. For this purpose, the paper first develops a new index to evaluate the ecological efficiency and then utilises the SYS-GMM method by using the provincial data during 2004–2017. Besides, we explore the heterogeneous, asymmetric, and mediating impact effect in the tourism–carbon–ecological efficiency nexus. The following findings are highlighted: (1) An inverted U-shaped nexus exists between tourism development and carbon emissions, which confirms the existence of the tourism–environment Kuznets curve; (2) tourism development can promote ecological efficiency, and this positive impact of tourism on the economy is enhanced by the tourism infrastructure; (3) the impact of tourism development on carbon emissions is heterogeneous and asymmetric, while its influence on ecological efficiency is consistent; and (4) investment effect is the significant mediator. This paper puts forward several policy suggestions based on the conclusion.

Lighting policies and the influence of light colour parameters on humans and the environment are complex. The opinions of experts and the optimisation of night-time lighting policies create a suitable nightscape that satisfies users’ needs and minimises environmental impacts. This study aims to provide a nightscape design policy for outdoor spaces considering environmental factors. This evaluation can provide multidisciplinary policy recommendations and evaluate the position of environmental considerations in human-centred lighting design. Initially, the factors affecting the night landscape are identified and priorities are subsequently determined on a smaller scale based on the typology of Tehran’s nightscape. The data output from these prioritisations is used to develop how the lights in the night landscape can be improved for various spatial typologies. Finally, a human and environment-friendly conceptual model is developed.

This study investigates the pros and cons of the energy transition process as a part of environmental sustainability’s policy in Iran. To analyse the strategic transition towards clean energy in Iran and extract practical policies and operational solutions, the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) technique was applied. Based on the findings, Iran’s most significant strengths towards greening economy are low operational cost of clean energy and academic experts’ involvement in localisation and environmental protection. Non-renewable energy trade, high initial costs, and Iran’s economic and foreign policy instability are the major weaknesses. Moreover, the opportunities include diversifying the economy to increase income and reduce dependence on oil. Finally, a lack of institutional capacity and coordination with related industries were the biggest threats. Based on the internal and external matrix, Iran’s energy transition process towards clean (renewable) energies is strategically in ST (Strengths and Threats) situation. It means, this transition in Iran has strengths (i.e. low cost of clean energy) as well as threats (i.e. increased competition in the global energy market) due to the internal and external factors, which can take advantage of existing strengths and predict future threats to reduce the effect of threats on the movement towards clean energy.