IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/sustdv/v32y2024i6p7051-7068.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A systematic literature review of the relationship between the rule of law and environmental sustainability

Author

Listed:
  • Nausheen Atta
  • Ayyoob Sharifi

Abstract

This study aims to synthesize knowledge on the interconnections between the rule of law and environmental sustainability by reviewing existing literature across various contexts. The topic is timely and highly relevant, particularly in the context of climate change, global environmental challenges, and ongoing discourse about the role of the rule of law in promoting sustainable development. We utilized the PRISMA framework for literature search and selection, organizing it into two main themes: one investigating the direct effects of the rule of law on environmental policies and regulations, while another examining its mediated role related to financial development, foreign direct investment, trade openness, equitable resource distribution, human development, and innovation's influence on environmental quality. This review underscores the significance of clear frameworks, fair accountability mechanisms, and stakeholder engagement in preventing institutional collapse and ensuring effective environmental sustainability. A major gap identified in the existing literature is the limited exploration of specific components of both concepts, such as fundamental rights, the justice system, biodiversity, and waste management. These areas present avenues for future research. This review offers insights for policymakers to advance global environmental objectives through a better understanding of the role played by the rule of law in promoting environmental sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Nausheen Atta & Ayyoob Sharifi, 2024. "A systematic literature review of the relationship between the rule of law and environmental sustainability," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(6), pages 7051-7068, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:32:y:2024:i:6:p:7051-7068
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.3087
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3087
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/sd.3087?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Usama Al-Mulali & Hassan F. Gholipour & Sakiru Adebola Solarin, 2022. "Investigating the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis: does government effectiveness matter? Evidence from 170 countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(11), pages 12740-12755, November.
    2. Hussain, Jamal & Zhou, Kui & Muhammad, Faqir & Khan, Danish & Khan, Anwar & Ali, Najabat & Akhtar, Rizwan, 2021. "Renewable energy investment and governance in countries along the belt & Road Initiative: Does trade openness matter?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 1278-1289.
    3. Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2019. "Inclusive development in environmental sustainability in sub‐Saharan Africa: Insights from governance mechanisms," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(4), pages 713-724, July.
    4. Sekrafi Habib & Snoussi Abdelmonen & Mili Khaled, 2020. "The Effect of Corruption on the Environmental Quality in African Countries: a Panel Quantile Regression Analysis," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 11(2), pages 788-804, June.
    5. Eggert, Håkan & Lokina, Razack B., 2010. "Regulatory compliance in Lake Victoria fisheries," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(2), pages 197-217, April.
    6. Wang, Erhong & Gozgor, Giray & Mahalik, Mantu Kumar & Patel, Gupteswar & Hu, Guoheng, 2022. "Effects of institutional quality and political risk on the renewable energy consumption in the OECD countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    7. Simplice A. Asongu & Rexon T. Nting & Joseph Nnanna, 2020. "Linkages between Globalisation, Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Governance in Sub-Saharan Africa," International Journal of Public Administration, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(11), pages 949-963, August.
    8. Dorota Wawrzyniak & Wirginia Doryń, 2020. "Does the quality of institutions modify the economic growth-carbon dioxide emissions nexus? Evidence from a group of emerging and developing countries," Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(1), pages 124-144, January.
    9. Muhammad Arif & Zhang Chenghu & Judit Olah & Khurram Shehzad & Mahmood Ahmad, 2022. "Specifying the Domineering Role of Governance in the Long Term Environmental Excellence: A Case Study of Pakistan," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(3), pages 21582440221, September.
    10. Acheampong, Alex O. & Opoku, Eric Evans Osei & Dzator, Janet, 2022. "Does democracy really improve environmental quality? Empirical contribution to the environmental politics debate," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    11. Halkos, George E. & Tzeremes, Nickolaos G., 2013. "Carbon dioxide emissions and governance: A nonparametric analysis for the G-20," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 110-118.
    12. Ana-Maria Bercu & Gigel Paraschiv & Dan Lupu, 2019. "Investigating the Energy–Economic Growth–Governance Nexus: Evidence from Central and Eastern European Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-21, June.
    13. Haider Mahmood & Muhammad Tanveer & Maham Furqan, 2021. "Rule of Law, Corruption Control, Governance, and Economic Growth in Managing Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Consumption in South Asia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-19, October.
    14. Khan, Yasir & Hassan, Taimoor & Guiqin, Huang & Nabi, Ghulam, 2023. "Analyzing the impact of natural resources and rule of law on sustainable environment: A proposed policy framework for BRICS economies," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PA).
    15. Tanner, Andrew M. & Johnston, Alison L., 2017. "The Impact of Rural Electric Access on Deforestation Rates," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 174-185.
    16. Olorunfemi Yasiru Alimi & Kazeem Bello Ajide, 2021. "The role of institutions in environment–health outcomes Nexus: empirical evidence from sub-Saharan Africa," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 54(4), pages 1205-1252, November.
    17. Zhao, Xiaomeng & Liu, Chuanjiang & Sun, Chuanwang & Yang, Mian, 2020. "Does stringent environmental regulation lead to a carbon haven effect? Evidence from carbon-intensive industries in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    18. Katarzyna Iwińska & Athanasios Kampas & Kerry Longhurst, 2019. "Interactions between Democracy and Environmental Quality: Toward a More Nuanced Understanding," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-17, March.
    19. Panayotou, Theodore, 1997. "Demystifying the environmental Kuznets curve: turning a black box into a policy tool," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 2(4), pages 465-484, November.
    20. Haiying Liu & Muhammad Wasif Zafar & Avik Sinha & Irfan Khan, 2023. "The path to sustainable environment: Do environmental taxes and governance matter?," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(4), pages 2278-2290, August.
    21. Abir Mrabet & Sami Jarboui, 2017. "Do institutional factors affect the efficiency of GDP and CO 2 emission? Evidence from Gulf and Maghreb countries," International Journal of Global Energy Issues, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 40(5), pages 259-276.
    22. Ang, James B. & Fredriksson, Per G., 2021. "Does an early start help or hurt? Statehood, institutions and modern climate change policies," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    23. James Rising & Marco Tedesco & Franziska Piontek & David A. Stainforth, 2022. "The missing risks of climate change," Nature, Nature, vol. 610(7933), pages 643-651, October.
    24. Tarek Bel Hadj & Adel Ghodbane, 2022. "A Moderated Mediation Model of the Effect of Foreign Direct Investments on CO2 Emissions: Panel Data Evidence from GCC Countries," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(2), pages 904-925, June.
    25. Abid, Mehdi & sakrafi, Habib & Gheraia, Zouheyr & Abdelli, Hanane, 2022. "Does renewable energy consumption affect ecological footprints in Saudi Arabia? A bootstrap causality test," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 813-821.
    26. Shi Wang & Hua Wang & Qian Sun, 2020. "The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Environmental Pollution in China: Corruption Matters," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-20, September.
    27. BELAÏD, Fateh & Elsayed, Ahmed H. & Omri, Anis, 2021. "Key drivers of renewable energy deployment in the MENA Region: Empirical evidence using panel quantile regression," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 225-238.
    28. Lian Xue & Mohammad Haseeb & Haider Mahmood & Tarek Tawfik Yousef Alkhateeb & Muntasir Murshed, 2021. "Renewable Energy Use and Ecological Footprints Mitigation: Evidence from Selected South Asian Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, February.
    29. Galinato, Gregmar I. & Galinato, Suzette P., 2012. "The effects of corruption control, political stability and economic growth on deforestation-induced carbon dioxide emissions," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(1), pages 67-90, February.
    30. Abdul Rahim Ridzuan & Noraina Mazuin Sapuan & Nur Hayati Abd Rahman & Halimahton Borhan & Azhana Othman, 2019. "The Impact of Corruption on Environmental Quality in the Developing Countries of ASEAN 3: The Application of the Bound Test," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 9(6), pages 469-478.
    31. Bellakhal, Rihab & Ben Kheder, Sonia & Haffoudhi, Houda, 2019. "Governance and renewable energy investment in MENA countries:How does trade matter?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    32. Farhan Ahmed & Shazia Kousar & Amber Pervaiz & José Pedro Ramos-Requena, 2020. "Financial Development, Institutional Quality, and Environmental Degradation Nexus: New Evidence from Asymmetric ARDL Co-Integration Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-21, September.
    33. Iftikhar Yasin & Nawaz Ahmad & M. Aslam Chaudhary, 2020. "Catechizing the Environmental-Impression of Urbanization, Financial Development, and Political Institutions: A Circumstance of Ecological Footprints in 110 Developed and Less-Developed Countries," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 147(2), pages 621-649, January.
    34. Alexandra-Anca Purcel, 2019. "Does Political Stability Hinder Pollution? Evidence From Developing States," Economic Research Guardian, Mutascu Publishing, vol. 9(2), pages 75-98, December.
    35. Gani, Azmat & Scrimgeour, Frank, 2014. "Modeling governance and water pollution using the institutional ecological economic framework," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 363-372.
    36. Joanne E Oxley & Bernard Yeung, 2001. "E-Commerce Readiness: Institutional Environment and International Competitiveness," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 32(4), pages 705-723, December.
    37. Stephen Taiwo Onifade & Bright Akwasi Gyamfi & Andrew Adewale Alola & Ilham Haouas, 2024. "Assessing the drivers of (non)conventional energy portfolios in the South Asian economies: The role of technological innovation and human development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(3), pages 1762-1773, June.
    38. Faiz Rehman & Muhammad Nasir & Faiza Kanwal, 2012. "Nexus between corruption and regional Environmental Kuznets Curve: the case of South Asian countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 14(5), pages 827-841, October.
    39. Ling Lin & Hsu-Ling Chang & Imran Shahzad & Nazneen Waseem, 2022. "A nexus between the rule of law, green innovation, growth and sustainable environment in top Asian countries: fresh insights from heterogeneous panel estimation," Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(1), pages 5434-5452, December.
    40. Mansor H. Ibrahim & Siong Hook Law, 2016. "Institutional Quality and CO 2 Emission–Trade Relations: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 84(2), pages 323-340, June.
    41. You, Wan-Hai & Zhu, Hui-Ming & Yu, Keming & Peng, Cheng, 2015. "Democracy, Financial Openness, and Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Heterogeneity Across Existing Emission Levels," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 189-207.
    42. Muhammad Azam & Liu Liu & Najid Ahmad, 2021. "Impact of institutional quality on environment and energy consumption: evidence from developing world," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 1646-1667, February.
    43. Mrabet, Zouhair & Alsamara, Mouyad & Mimouni, Karim & Mnasri, Ayman, 2021. "Can human development and political stability improve environmental quality? New evidence from the MENA region," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 28-44.
    44. Bo Sui & Chun-Ping Chang & Yin Chu, 2021. "Political Stability: an Impetus for Spatial Environmental Spillovers," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 79(2), pages 387-415, June.
    45. Yu Hao & Yi-Ming Liu, 2015. "Has the development of FDI and foreign trade contributed to China’s CO 2 emissions? An empirical study with provincial panel data," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 76(2), pages 1079-1091, March.
    46. Mr. Muthukumara Mani & Mr. Per G. Fredriksson, 2002. "The Rule of Law and the Pattern of Environment Protection," IMF Working Papers 2002/049, International Monetary Fund.
    47. Ranjan Aneja & Manisha Yadav & Sanjeev Gupta, 2024. "The dynamic impact assessment of clean energy and green innovation in realizing environmental sustainability of G‐20," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(3), pages 2454-2473, June.
    48. Khalid, Usman & Shafiullah, Muhammad, 2021. "Financial development and governance: A panel data analysis incorporating cross-sectional dependence," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 45(2).
    49. Dervis Kirikkaleli & Aygün Osmanlı, 2023. "The Impact of Political Stability on Environmental Quality in the Long Run: The Case of Turkey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-15, June.
    50. Nicolae Stef & Sami Ben Jabeur, 2020. "Climate Change Legislations and Environmental Degradation," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 77(4), pages 839-868, December.
    51. Assad Ullah & Xinshun Zhao & Muhammad Abdul Kamal & Jiajia Zheng, 2022. "Environmental regulations and inward FDI in China: Fresh evidence from the asymmetric autoregressive distributed lag approach," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(1), pages 1340-1356, January.
    52. Ekins, Paul & Simon, Sandrine & Deutsch, Lisa & Folke, Carl & De Groot, Rudolf, 2003. "A framework for the practical application of the concepts of critical natural capital and strong sustainability," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(2-3), pages 165-185, March.
    53. Gao, Zhiyuan & Li, Lianqing & Hao, Yu, 2024. "Resource industry dependence and high-quality economic development of Chinese style: Reexamining the effect of the “Resource Curse”," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 1-16.
    54. Acemoglu, Daron, 2012. "Introduction to economic growth," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 147(2), pages 545-550.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Nausheen Atta & Ayyoob Sharifi, 2025. "A review of the knowledge structure and trends in research on the interlinkages between the rule of law and environmental sustainability," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(2), pages 2216-2249, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nausheen Atta & Ayyoob Sharifi, 2025. "A review of the knowledge structure and trends in research on the interlinkages between the rule of law and environmental sustainability," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(2), pages 2216-2249, April.
    2. Yen Nguyen & Son Le & Nam Ngo & Huyen Nguyen, 2023. "Impacts of FDI and Environmental Pollution in ASEAN Countries: The Role of Institutions," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 13(5), pages 242-250, September.
    3. James Temitope Dada & Folorunsho Monsur Ajide & Adams Adeiza, 2022. "Shadow Economy and Environmental Pollution in West African Countries: The Role of Institutions," Global Journal of Emerging Market Economies, Emerging Markets Forum, vol. 14(3), pages 366-389, September.
    4. Haider Mahmood & Muhammad Tanveer & Maham Furqan, 2021. "Rule of Law, Corruption Control, Governance, and Economic Growth in Managing Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Consumption in South Asia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-19, October.
    5. Kiran Asif & Samina Sabir & Unbreen Qayyum, 2024. "Corruption, Political Instability, and Environmental Degradation in South Asia: a Comparative Analysis of Carbon Footprint and Ecological Footprint," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 4072-4096, March.
    6. Tsur, Yacov, 2025. "The diverse impacts of democracy on greenhouse gas emissions," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    7. Acheampong, Alex O. & Said, Rabie, 2024. "Financial inclusion and the global net-zero emissions agenda: Does governance quality matter?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    8. Omri, Anis & Omri, Henda & Slimani, Sana & Belaid, Fateh, 2022. "Environmental degradation and life satisfaction: Do governance and renewable energy matter?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    9. De Pascale, Gianluigi & Pronti, Andrea & Zoboli, Roberto, 2024. "The role of local institutional quality for the digital and environmental transitions in Italy," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 689-705.
    10. Wang, Erhong & Padhan, Hemachandra & Pruseth, Sujit Kumar & Ma, Junwei, 2024. "Government efficiency, green technology, and ecological footprint: Strategic framework for natural resource management efficiency targets," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    11. Dong-Hyeon Kim & Yi-Chen Wu & Shu-Chin Lin, 2022. "Carbon dioxide emissions, financial development and political institutions," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 837-874, May.
    12. Clement Olalekan Olaniyi & Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh Al‐Faryan & Eyitayo Oyewunmi Ogbaro, 2025. "Do institutional quality and its threshold matter in the sensitivity of the renewable energy transition to financial development? New empirical perspectives," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(1), pages 5-43, January.
    13. Amin, Nabila & Shabbir, Muhammad Salman & Song, Huaming & Farrukh, Muhammad Umar & Iqbal, Shahid & Abbass, Kashif, 2023. "A step towards environmental mitigation: Do green technological innovation and institutional quality make a difference?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    14. Aller, Carlos & Ductor, Lorenzo & Grechyna, Daryna, 2021. "Robust determinants of CO2 emissions," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    15. Nicolae Stef & Sami Ben Jabeur, 2023. "Elections and Environmental Quality," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 84(2), pages 593-625, February.
    16. Tii N. Nchofoung & Nathanael Ojong, 2023. "Natural resources, renewable energy, and governance: A path towards sustainable development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(3), pages 1553-1569, June.
    17. Haifa Saadaoui & Nouri Chtourou, 2023. "Do Institutional Quality, Financial Development, and Economic Growth Improve Renewable Energy Transition? Some Evidence from Tunisia," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(3), pages 2927-2958, September.
    18. Iftikhar Yasin & Nawaz Ahmad & Muhammad Aslam Chaudhary, 2021. "The impact of financial development, political institutions, and urbanization on environmental degradation: evidence from 59 less-developed economies," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 6698-6721, May.
    19. Omed Rafiq Fatah & Hatem Hatef Abdulkadhim Altaee, 2024. "The Role of Political Stability in Nine Arab Natural Resource-Abundant Countries (ANRAC) Toward Environmental Sustainability through CO2 Mitigation," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 14(3), pages 28-37, May.
    20. Donatella Baiardi & Simona Scabrosetti, 2025. "Does the Quality of Political Institutions Matter for the Effectiveness of Environmental Taxes? An Empirical Analysis on CO2 Emissions," Environmetrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(2), March.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:32:y:2024:i:6:p:7051-7068. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-1719 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.