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Local energy systems (LES) are designed to decarbonize, balance, and coordinate supply, storage and demand resources. Which local conditions enable LES to flourish? Using a unique dataset of 146 LES projects in the UK from 2010 to 2020, we apply econometric methods to identify energy, institutional and socio-economic conditions significantly associated with LES, but not other local energy forms. We show distributed power generation, low-carbon infrastructure firm activity, local government strategy and active energy efficiency markets are enablers of LES involving multiple actors, sectors and skill sets. These conditions describe a clear policy agenda for stimulating and supporting emerging local energy markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial introduces the Special Issue on the role and use of discrete choice modelling in informing environmental and energy decision making and summarises the main insights provided. The papers collected in this Special Issue address a range of applications of discrete choice modelling, from energy decisions to climate change and transport choices, from tourism preferences for climate change mitigation to wildlife conservation strategies and ecosystem management. However, all the papers share the same fundamental aim of using novel methodological approaches in choice models to tackle conceptually and spatially specific policy questions and support decisions with robust empirical evidence. This is particularly relevant to enhance the real-world policy uptake of choice modelling results and develop a network of practice and capacity building to improve the quality of information that is provided to stakeholders and decision makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural capital accounting requires exchange rather than welfare values, but lack of data and standards have encouraged practitioners to use different approaches (e.g. simple lookup table vs spatial modeling approaches). In this paper, we demonstrate how choice modeling data can provide simulated exchange values which are more robust than simple (fast track) valuation approaches for natural capital accounting. A survey of East of England residents collected the preferences for saltmarsh management and simulated exchange values, coherently linked with the ecosystem conditions. This approach is more informative for environmental local planning purposes. We claim that expanding the set of tools available for natural capital accounting can enhance management of ecosystem services and policy decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transport infrastructures have been investigated as drivers of tourist demand. Specific attention has been devoted to air transport infrastructure and services. However, the literature on this issue is scanty. Moreover, few studies focus on ex-ante valuation of tourists' preferences for mobility systems. This study contributes to this literature by presenting a case study on the re-organization of the mobility system to access the city of Siena, Italy. A choice experiment is carried out to elicit tourists' preferences for distance, time, cost, travel mode, along with the environmental impact of infrastructure. The latter factor turns out to be particularly relevant in explaining tourists' choices and welfare. Furthermore, the results appear to be robust and not significantly dependent on design settings (specifically the number of alternatives). While these results only refer to a single case study, they seem to suggest that new transportation facilities do not necessarily cause an increase in tourism flows. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]