Environmental Impact Assessment Review最新文献

{"title":"Clearer flow, lower glow: Reassessing water valuation amid water quality improvement","authors":"Xun Fan ,&nbsp;Mengdi Liu ,&nbsp;Bing Zhang ,&nbsp;Qianqian Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108056","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108056","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is an implicit assumption in most regulatory analyses that baseline environmental conditions are static. In developing countries, rapid environmental improvements resulting from regulation can amplify the biases created by this assumption. This paper is the first attempt to link water quality as a baseline environmental condition with the marginal value of clean water. Leveraging positive shocks to water quality through the dissemination of water quality information to governments in an experiment in China, this paper estimates the effect of water quality on willingness to pay (WTP) for clean water. With an instrumental variable (IV) model, we find that a one-unit increase in water quality index would lead to an approximate 34.2 % decrease in WTP for clean water. Our findings highlight the diminishing marginal value of clean water in developing countries with tightening regulations and rapidly improving water quality. This suggests that overlooking the relationship between water quality and marginal value of clean water may lead to an overestimation of policy benefits. In addition, we provide suggestive evidence that our findings of a negative WTP effect are likely attributable to the reduction in perceived water quality risks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"115 ","pages":"Article 108056"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144490240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Systematic review of life cycle assessment of thermoelectric materials and devices to identify knowledge gaps and sustainability perspectives","authors":"Unza Jamil ,&nbsp;Nicholas M. Holden","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108060","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108060","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This research examines the sustainability of thermoelectric (TE) materials and devices through a systematic review of 15 life cycle assessment (LCA) studies. The review was designed to focus on the significant question, not addressed in the literature, of whether published LCAs of thermoelectric materials and devices collectively enable conclusions to be drawn at the sector scale. The analysis focused on gaps and inconsistencies in the methodologies employed, including a lack of adherence to ISO standards, varying definitions of functional units, and incomplete reporting of environmental impacts. Most studies concentrate on traditional TE materials, such as bismuth telluride, with little emphasis on alternative or emerging materials. The majority of the assessments are based on process-oriented attributional LCAs, while consequential LCAs and cradle-to-cradle approaches are notably underutilized. Key findings suggest that, although TE technologies have the potential to offer environmental advantages—like energy recovery from waste heat and efficient cooling—there are considerable challenges that must be addressed. These include high production costs, dependence on toxic materials, and scalability concerns. The findings of the review illuminate the pathway for future research. It is recommended to focus on the development of sustainable and abundant materials, ensure compliance with standardized LCA methodologies, and incorporate cradle-to-end-of-use assessments to enhance transparency and comparability. There should also be an increased emphasis on case-specific analyses and the use of advanced computational models to better inform decisions regarding environmental sustainability and scalability. While TE technologies are promising, the inconsistencies and gaps in current studies limit a thorough understanding of their environmental impacts and broader acceptance. This review highlights the critical need for consistent methodologies, greater exploration of diverse materials, and geographic inclusivity to build a solid foundation for assessing the sustainability of TE materials and devices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"115 ","pages":"Article 108060"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144490241","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding lead exposure through data and domain expertise: Insights from New Jersey with a geographically weighted regression analysis","authors":"Danlin Yu,&nbsp;Gift Fabolude,&nbsp;Charles Knoble,&nbsp;Anvy Vu","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108063","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108063","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lead contamination remains a persistent and dangerous threat, particularly affecting young children and vulnerable communities. This study aims to develop a comprehensive lead exposure risk map for New Jersey municipalities by integrating diverse lead contamination data and analyzing the spatial distribution and magnitude of lead exposure risks. Utilizing both data-driven and participatory approaches, we employed Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to create distinct multi-criteria lead exposure indices. Then, a Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) analysis was conducted to explore the local variations in lead exposure and the factors influencing these risks using both indices. Our linear models indicate that both PCA and AHP-based indices effectively capture the essence of lead exposure in urban areas, with significant correlations (Adjusted R² = 0.225 for PCA and 0.466 for AHP, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.01) observed between the indices and socioeconomic factors, with poverty, percentage of people of color, and housing tenure consistently identified as critical local predictors. The GWR analysis revealed not only the local variability of these factors' influence on lead exposure, but also that incorporating stakeholder knowledge and expert input provides valuable insights that pure data-driven methods may overlook. The study revealed significant spatial variations in lead exposure across New Jersey, identifying localized risk hotspots in urban areas such as Newark. Socioeconomic disparities, particularly poverty levels, percentage of people of color, and rental housing rates, though having spatially varying influences on lead exposure, were found to have significantly influence nonetheless, highlighting important environmental justice concerns. Furthermore, combining expert-driven (AHP) and data-driven (PCA) indices provided complementary insights, emphasizing the value of integrating stakeholder expertise with empirical data for targeted public health interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"115 ","pages":"Article 108063"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144471131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"“Resource-carbon” redistribution caused by Japan's cement production and consumption: a life-cycle based multilayer perspective","authors":"Yueyang Bai ,&nbsp;Masatoshi Hasegawa ,&nbsp;Hiroaki Shirakawa ,&nbsp;Eiji Yamasue ,&nbsp;Hiroki Tanikawa","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108051","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108051","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Inter-reginal trade of raw materials, energy, and products within Japan's cement supply chain creates substantial telecoupled material and carbon flows. Temporal dynamics in regional cement consumption and supply chain structure have discrepant effects on production regions and resource suppliers. However, existing literature studies primarily focused on single-year carbon flows and obscured transportation impacts. Therefore, this study developed a process-based life cycle multi-layer supply network integrating transport data, trade statistics, and gravity model to quantify material and carbon flows embedded in Japan's prefectural cement supply network from 2010 to 2022. Results reveal that in 2022, up to 88 % of total material requirement (TMR) and 74 % of carbon footprint (CF) impacts attributed to inter-prefectural trade and energy imports, while transportation processes contributed about 5 % to the total impacts. Domestically, TMR and CF transfers primarily flowed from northern regions (Hokkaido, Iwate) and southern regions (Fukuoka, Yamaguchi, Kochi) toward three major economic centers, while smaller transfer networks emerged around Saitama, Niigata, and Mie prefectures. The production-side TMR and CF of major impact-exporting prefectures have recently declined due to reduced remote consumption, while Hyogo demonstrated slight growth driven by supply increases. Internationally, approximately 38 % of TMR impacts were externalized to coal-exporting countries, with Australia and Indonesia replacing Russia's historical dominance following geopolitical changes, leading to a 22 % increase in long-distance maritime impacts. These findings underscore the need for implementing targeted cross-cutting mitigation strategies (i.e., low-carbon fuels and material-efficient design) to achieve a more sustainable and resilient cement industry in Japan.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"115 ","pages":"Article 108051"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144471040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the environmental and economic performances of 3D printing processes for manufacturing printed circuit boards","authors":"Yingying Ke ,&nbsp;Fu Gu ,&nbsp;Jingxiang Lv ,&nbsp;Jianfeng Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108057","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108057","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Though extensive efforts have been invested in developing 3D (3-dimensional) printing processes to produce printed circuit boards (PCBs), the environmental and economic aspects of such processes remain underexamined. To bridge this knowledge gap, we investigate the environmental and economic performances of four 3D printing processes (i.e., fused deposition modeling [FDM], direct ink writing [DIW], inkjet printing [IJP], and aerosol-jet printing [AJP]) for PCB production employing an ex-ante life cycle assessment (LCA) method and a traditional life cycle costing (LCC) method, in comparison with the most widely-used PCB manufacturing process, i.e., the subtractive process. Our findings indicate that in general, the environmental performance of the four 3D printing processes is superior to that of the subtractive process, and substantial environmental benefits occur in the preprocessing stage of the 3D printing processes due to lower energy and material consumptions. However, in terms of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission, only FDM is environmentally beneficial, as the carbon emission of this process is less than 40 % of those of the other four processes, while the other 3D printing processes emit more CO₂ than the subtractive process. Additionally, only FDM is economically feasible to replace the subtractive process in terms of life cycle cost, as its life cycle cost is merely less than 20 % of those of the other four processes. Again, the life cycle costs of DIW, IJP, and AJP are much greater than those of the baseline due to the high costs of silver inks and AJP printers. The sensitivity analysis underscores the influence of circuit density and thickness on the processes' overall environmental and economic performances. Furthermore, based on the observations, we offer practical implications and research perspectives to facilitate the adoption of 3D printing in electronics manufacturing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"115 ","pages":"Article 108057"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144471128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the freshwater provision service flows from a “Past-Future” perspective: A case study of the hilly area of South China","authors":"Weiyin Wang ,&nbsp;Wenshu Liu ,&nbsp;Hongjiao Qu ,&nbsp;Luo Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108059","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108059","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Against the backdrop of accelerating urbanization, freshwater provision services have become a critical area of research for sustainable development. This study develops a novel framework integrating river paths and watershed boundaries to simulate and predict freshwater provision service flows. The results revealed that from 2000 to 2020, the areas with a significant surplus water were primarily located in the northern regions of the Qiantang, Oujiang, and Minjiang River Basin, whereas severe freshwater shortages occurred predominantly in the Taihu Lake Basin. Additionally, the number of pixels with a surplus exceeding 1.5 × 10⁵ m³ per square kilometer initially increased and then declined, reaching 1.68 times the 2000 level by 2020. Based on watershed boundaries and their surplus, provision service flows were classified into three types, and a total of 34 flow paths were identified. Moreover, future projections for 2025 and 2030, have highlighted persistent spatial disparities. Machine learning models, particularly Random Forest, demonstrated superior predictive accuracy (R² &gt; 0.8), outperforming traditional methods. Overall, this framework offers a robust approach for cross-basin water resource management, aiding in efficient allocation and sustainable governance of freshwater ecosystem services. Additionally, the proposed methodology offers a novel perspective for analyzing the spatiotemporal dynamics of freshwater provision service flows.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"115 ","pages":"Article 108059"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144471129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Addressing urban climate adaptation through Strategic Environmental Assessment: Progress and perspectives","authors":"Silvia Ronchi ,&nbsp;Davide Geneletti ,&nbsp;Chiara Cortinovis","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108042","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108042","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The effects of climate change and related risks are widely recognised worldwide, requiring the incorporation of adaptation strategies in policies, plans, and programmes (PPPs) and especially in urban plans considering that cities are particularly vulnerable and, simultaneously, are major contributors to climate change. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is the key tool for integrating climate change considerations into urban plans for improving territorial resilience. However, experiences and empirical evidence on integrating climate change adaptation strategies in urban plans through SEA are still limited. To support urban adaptation, SEA needs to assess both the expected impacts of climate change on PPP's objectives and actions, and the effects of PPP on the exposure and vulnerability to different climatic events. The urgency of climate change has stimulated SEA practitioners to integrate new topics and methods able to deal with climate adaptation into SEA procedures, innovating the traditional SEA approach to climate. The Special Issue investigates how SEA practices address climate adaptation and, more precisely, how SEA applications can improve adaptation strategies. The articles in this issue adopt various methodologies, such as scenario-based modelling of land use changes, qualitative research using narrative interviews, comparative analysis of climate indicators in SEA applications, and assessments of the regulatory frameworks guiding adaptation policies. These different perspectives and approaches provide insightful information about the changing role of SEA, allowing for an understanding of its potential and added value in climate adaptation. By tackling these critical problems, SEA will develop into a more well-organised and beneficial framework for advancing sustainability and long-term climate resilience in urban planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"115 ","pages":"Article 108042"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144580896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the environmental impacts of tin ingot production in China: Insight from life cycle assessment","authors":"Wei Chen ,&nbsp;Lulu Hu ,&nbsp;Tianzuo Zhang ,&nbsp;Jinglan Hong ,&nbsp;Yong Geng","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108049","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108049","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tin is an indispensable metal for contemporary society, but its extraction processes result in adverse environmental impacts. A comprehensive environmental impact assessment of tin ingot production is crucial to enhance the environmental transparency of downstream products. However, few studies have examined the environmental impacts of tin production, and none have focused on tin ingot production from mining to smelting in China, the global top producer of refined tin. This research endeavors to address this gap by examining the potential environmental impacts of tin ingot (99.95 % tin) production in China for the first time using a life cycle assessment that includes the mining, beneficiation, and smelting stages. An uncertainty analysis was conducted using a Monte Carlo simulation to provide reliable results for stakeholder decision-making. The results showed that the potential environmental impacts on resources, human health, and ecosystem quality from producing one ton of tin ingot were 1.16 × 10⁶ $, 0.10 disability-adjusted life years, and 1.57 × 10⁻³ Species·year, respectively. The inputs of tin and natural gas in the ground and the emissions of particulates, carbon dioxide, chromium VI, mercury, and iron, were major contributors to the potential environmental burden. These substances primarily originated from the production of tin ore, steel, explosives, freshwater, and natural gas, and direct on-site emissions associated with tin ingot production. Several recommendations were then proposed to promote the sustainable development of tin industry based on these results. These included the promotion of tin recycling, the adjustment of energy structure, the implementation of carbon labeling certification, the use of economic instruments, and the promotion of international cooperation. These findings (e.g., life cycle inventory, impact assessment results, key contributing factors, and recommendations) will provide valuable insights to stakeholders seeking to diminish the environmental strain of the tin and metallurgical industries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"115 ","pages":"Article 108049"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144344630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pathway selection to achieving synergistic benefits of pollution and carbon reduction through solid waste resource utilization based on system dynamics","authors":"He Liu ,&nbsp;Dongfang Guo ,&nbsp;He Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108053","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108053","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As carbon peaking and neutrality goals advance, along with the development of “Zero-Waste City,” the resource utilization of solid waste has garnered considerable attention for its dual impact on reducing pollutant and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, there is limited research on synergistic evaluation in the field of solid waste. This research seeks to develop a quantitative approach for evaluating the synergistic degree of solid waste utilization and offers recommendations for selecting comprehensive and effective development pathways. A system dynamics (SD) model encompassing eight categories of influencing factors was developed to predict the synergy index (SI) for China from 2024 to 2050. The results indicate that China's solid waste resource utilization will yield significant co-benefits in both pollution and carbon reduction, with a greater impact on pollutant reduction than on GHG mitigation. The level of technology and education, urbanization, economic development, and resource utilization have a crucial impact on the synergy between pollution and carbon reduction. Moderately slowing the urbanization process in the short term, accelerating technological and educational development, and optimizing industrial structure can enhance the carbon emission reduction benefits of solid waste resource utilization. This study not only provides a methodological reference for quantifying the synergistic degree of pollution and carbon reduction through solid waste resource utilization at a national scale, but also delineates the dynamic patterns between various influencing factors and synergy, offering a foundation for selecting development pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"115 ","pages":"Article 108053"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144471127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Small cities can achieve great accomplishments: Transnational climate actions and carbon emissions – Evidence at the city level","authors":"Chun-yu Guo,&nbsp;Jin-sheng Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108034","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108034","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Strategies for addressing climate risk are commonly developed at the national level, often overlooking the role of cities as the actual implementers of specific actions. We examine the contributions of urban actions to transnational climate initiatives by investigating cities that have joined the European Union Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy Initiative (EUCoM), which aims to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Adopting a city perspective enables us to observe the micro mechanisms through which transnational climate actions make a difference. Using a stacked difference-in-differences strategy, our analysis reveals that joining the EUCoM leads to an 8.6 % reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, which also spills over to neighboring cities. This positive impact persists for 3–5 years. The effect of joining the initiative is more pronounced in coastal and densely populated cities, whereas spatial spillover effects weaken beyond a distance of 30 km. Moreover, the spatial linkages between cities significantly influence local authorities' decision to participate in the initiative and may result in an “joining for appearance” phenomenon. Importantly, self-reported emission inventories reflect cities' ambitions and capacities for emission reduction, but there is a disconnect between their mitigation performance and ambitious emission reduction goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":309,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Impact Assessment Review","volume":"115 ","pages":"Article 108034"},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144351529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}