Eco-policing and environmental sustainability: Do smart technologies matter? Evidence based on the city of Huzhou’s "eco-policing" strategy

Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) has long been a central concern for humanity, intimately tied to survival and progress. Ecological policing is a crucial strategy to mitigate ecological and environmental crimes and advance sustainable development. This study investigates the efficacy of eco-policing strategies in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China. It empirically examines the relationship between eco-policing and ESD, utilizing panel data from 61 county-level cities in Zhejiang Province spanning from 2000 to 2020. The results reveal that eco-policing has a positive and significant impact on ESD, an effect that remains robust across various tests. Mechanism analysis indicates that eco-policing fosters ESD through the advancement of smart technology and enhanced departmental synergy. Further investigation shows that smart technology positively and significantly moderates the relationship between eco-policing and ESD. This study offers policy recommendations aimed at enhancing eco-policing and smart technology, providing valuable insights for research on eco-policing and sustainability.