International Journal of Environment and Pollution (6 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Open Access

  Mapping carbon disclosure research: bibliometric analysis and frontier exploration ( Free Full-text Access )

  by Jiawei Shi, Razif Bin Rosli, Zixuan Yuan 
  Abstract: This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the research literature on carbon disclosure, aiming to reveal its knowledge structure, evolutionary trajectory, and emerging frontiers. By conducting analysis based on 985 articles gathered from the Web of Science Core Collection (19822024) using CiteSpace indicates exponential growth in publications and a paradigm shift within the global research landscape. China has become a leading contributor, joining established nations such as the USA and the UK. The main thematic research clusters identified include: 1) institutional legitimacy and value addition; 2) stakeholder engagement and institutional governance; 3) inter-country comparisons; and 4) policy effectiveness and innovation complementarity. Burst analysis reveals a shift in the research frontier from legitimacy theory to strategic management, with green innovation and investment emerging as recent focal areas. The research paradigm has evolved from a compliance-driven approach to one that integrates disclosure with corporate strategy and sustainable finance. A substantial knowledge gap remains between policy-driven and innovation-driven research, and the growing significance of non-Western institutional contexts is emphasised.
  Keywords: carbon disclosure; CiteSpace; bibliometrics; stakeholders; green innovation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2026.10076983
   
  

• Open Access

  Health impact assessment of the cooling benefits of urban green infrastructure from the resilience perspective ( Free Full-text Access )

  by Zhirui Huang, Liping Ouyang, Xuan Wang, Qianming Yang 
  Abstract: In order to address the difficulty of quantifying the cooling benefits of urban green infrastructure as health benefits and the lack of comprehensive resilience evaluation, this paper develops a systematic evaluation framework that integrates environmental and health data. Firstly, this paper retrieves urban surface temperature from land satellite remote sensing images; secondly, uses the ENVI met model calibrated with local parameters to simulate the cooling intensity and spatial range of different types of green spaces on typical heat wave days; then, combines population distribution with exposure response relationships established based on local epidemiological data, adds the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI); and finally conducts Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA). The research results indicate that the Gini coefficient of high-risk and highly vulnerable populations decreases from 0.68 to 0.52, and the coverage rate of high-risk communities increases to 78.3%.
  Keywords: urban green infrastructure; cooling benefits; health impact assessment; social vulnerability; climate resilience.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2026.10077053
   
  

• Open Access

  Impact of sewage treatment plants on local tourism and ecotourism ( Free Full-text Access )

  by Rui Guo, Yuanyu Zhang, Long Zhang 
  Abstract: Sewage treatment plants (STP) significantly impact local tourism and ecotourism by improving water quality, enhancing scenic accessibility, and boosting tourist experiences. This study analysed STP effects in Xian, comparing suspended solids and tourism revenue in four scenic areas in June 2023 and June 2025. Results showed STP reduced suspended solids, improved environmental quality, and increased tourism revenue. Specifically, scenic areas exhibited notable decreases in water pollutants and substantial increases in income. STP supports ecosystem protection, enhances tourism resources, and promotes sustainable development. This highlights STPs role in balancing environmental protection and tourism growth, offering insights for sustainable ecotourism strategies.
  Keywords: sewage treatment plant; local tourism; ecotourism development; tourism revenue; tourist satisfaction.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2026.10077146
   
  

• Open Access

  Marginal emission reduction costs of regional energy system transformation enabled by digital economy from the perspective of supply chain ( Free Full-text Access )

  by Wenjuan Liu, Wenbo Ma 
  Abstract: The existing supply chain management model is difficult to effectively control the unit marginal emission reduction cost. This paper constructs a multi-level integrated framework based on the Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) algorithm to capture the nonlinear relationship between electricity prices, weather, industrial activities and historical loads, and dynamically output node loads and carbon emission boundaries. The prediction results are transmitted to the Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model in real time, which optimizes the carbon emission path through piecewise linear control and global constraints to minimize the unit marginal emission reduction cost. The node carbon emission data is written into the Hyperledger Fabric blockchain after hash encryption, so as to carry out full-link encrypted evidence storage and traceability. Experiments show that when the carbon quota is compressed to 50% of the system's baseline emissions, the unit marginal emission reduction cost is reduced from 278 yuan/ton to 245 yuan/ton.
  Keywords: digital economy integration; marginal abatement cost; regional energy system; supply chain coordination; carbon information governance.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2026.10078072
   
  

• Open Access

  Research on the development of low-carbon digital economy transformation based on artificial intelligence and fuzzy synthesis algorithm ( Free Full-text Access )

  by Yong Zhang, Hailing Jiang, Yun Liu, Yusri Kamin 
  Abstract: Due to low-carbon and digital transformation (LCDT), the economic and social system is expected to undergo significant changes in the coming decades, which will have a significant impact on employment. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been proven to significantly reduce the frequency of carbon dioxide emissions in small, medium-sized, and less advanced cities by optimising economic processes, improving the efficiency of transportation networks, and predicting and preventing emissions. This paper proposes an artificial intelligence assisted fuzzy synthesis algorithm to achieve the development of low-carbon digital transformation (AI-FSA-LCDT). This paper conducted experimental research on the relationship between digital economy expansion and low-carbon emissions using intelligent multi criteria algorithms. The results indicated that developing a digital economy may significantly reduce the carbon reduction intensity of the region and its neighboringcountries. Therefore, it is crucial to promote the construction process of the digital economy as a development strategy in a low-carbon environment.
  Keywords: digital transformation; artificial intelligence; CO2 emission; fuzzy synthesis algorithm; low carbon economy; carbon reduction intensity.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2026.10078281
   
  

• Open Access

  Coupling coordination level and sustainable development of ecological environment and network economy based on data mining ( Free Full-text Access )

  by Rong Wang, Zhenpeng Di, Xia Rong 
  Abstract: Traditional studies on the coupling and coordination of economics and ecology often overlook the emerging network economy and fail to clarify its role in regional sustainable development. To fill this research gap, this study takes Lanzhou as the research object and combines data mining technology with a coupled coordination model to construct a multi-dimensional evaluation index system covering the ecological environment, traditional economy and network economy. By collecting and processing relevant data from Lanzhou, this study quantifies the coupling degree and coordination level between the ecological environment and the economic system (including the network economy), and dynamically tracks its evolution trend. The results show that the coupling coordination degree calculated in 2019 was 0.43, indicating that Lanzhou is at a low but improving level. This study shows that implementing a data-driven strategy can further strengthen the coupling and coordination between the ecological environment and the economy in Lanzhou.
  Keywords: data mining; ecosystem and network economy; sustainable development; coupling and coordination.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2025.10078282