A Comparative Analysis of Theoretical and Practical Perspectives on Prioritizing Environmental Challenges in Mountainous Climate Cities of Iran

Mountainous climate cities in Iran face numerous environmental challenges due to their unique natural features and urban development patterns, the intensity of which is influenced by both natural and human factors. This study aims to prioritize these challenges by comparing the results of a systematic literature review with the perspectives of urban planning and environmental experts. In terms of methodology, this research is descriptive and analytical. The required data were first gathered based on the PRISMA framework by searching academic databases and the challenges were then extracted using inductive content analysis and prioritized according to their frequency. In the next step, the Analytic Hierarchy Process and a pairwise comparison questionnaire were utilized to assess the experts views. The data were aggregated using the geometric mean and analyzed in Super Decisions software, while the consistency of judgments was evaluated through the inconsistency rate. The results indicated a significant difference between the prioritization of challenges in scientific studies and the perspectives of experts. The academic literature emphasizes natural hazards such as floods, landslides, and air pollution, whereas experts place a higher priority on structural and managerial issues such as the water crisis, population density, migration, traffic, and infrastructural deficiencies. This suggests that while research texts focus on visible consequences, professional insight considers human and managerial roots to be more decisive. Ultimately, the environmental challenges of these cities are not solely driven by natural factors but are influenced by the pattern of development. Achieving sustainability requires a transition from a crisis-driven approach to integrated, proactive, and resilient planning.