Integrated assessment models and input–output analysis: bridging fields for advancing sustainability scenarios research

Abstract

Technology-rich Integrated assessment models (IAMs) and Environmentally-Extended Input–Output Analysis (EEIOA) are widely employed for sustainability analysis, each offering unique strengths. IAMs focus on forward-looking scenarios, exploring technological shifts and climate change mitigation costs. EEIOA provides more comprehensive but static assessments of environmental and socio-economic impacts throughout supply chains, adopting a lifecycle perspective. I conduct a literature review to assess the current state of IAM-IO integration, paving the way for future research opportunities with advanced models. Existing studies have loosely linked IAM and IO models to improve one field or the other. This perspective highlights the potential for more advanced IAM-IO model linking and identifies three domains within sustainability scenarios research where IAM-IO integration could play a crucial role: the energy-industry nexus in decarbonization pathways, multi-dimensional sustainability impact assessment and demand-side solutions and post-growth climate mitigation scenarios. The expected research insights may be pivotal to design effective sustainable policies.