Towards Carbon Neutrality: Sustainable Solutions for Reducing Carbon Footprints

Dear Colleagues,

The pressing need to mitigate climate change has brought carbon neutrality, or achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions, to the forefront of global priorities. As highlighted by the United Nations, the transition toward carbon neutrality is critical for guaranteeing humanity's quality of life and respecting the planet's limits. Achieving this ambitious goal requires collective action across all sectors of society. Governments, organizations, academic institutions, and industries worldwide are increasingly incorporating sustainability into their missions, not only to address climate challenges but also as a value that enhances their social and environmental accountability.

This Special Issue aims to explore innovative, scalable, and practical solutions for reducing carbon footprints and progressing toward carbon neutrality. Contributions should be aligned with the multifaceted dimensions of sustainability, environmental, economic, and social, while addressing global and local challenges. Original research articles, case studies, and comprehensive reviews are welcome.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Strategies for carbon footprint reduction and management in organizations, institutions, and industries;
• Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies for promoting sustainability and carbon neutrality;
• Development and evaluation of technologies promoting carbon neutrality;
• Smart energy systems for sustainable development;
• Advances in energy-efficient systems and low-carbon industrial processes;
• Hydrogen energy and its role in the transition to carbon neutrality;
• Solar energy innovations and applications for reducing carbon footprints;
• Wind energy and ocean energy as sustainable alternatives for energy generation;
• Measurement, compensation, and mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions;
• Innovative programs and projects for GHG capture, utilization, and storage;
• Process control and smart systems to optimize operations;
• Renewable energy solutions for decarbonization;
• Energy transition policies and incentives;
• Sustainable infrastructure and urban planning;
• The role of digital technologies in decarbonizing the telecommunication, transportation, electricity, manufacturing, and service sectors;
• Circular economy approaches to achieving carbon neutrality.

This issue seeks to

• Highlight cutting-edge research contributing to carbon footprint reduction and carbon neutrality solutions.
• Foster interdisciplinary collaboration to address sustainability challenges across environmental, economic, and social dimensions.
• Present case studies demonstrating applications of innovative technologies and practices that lead to achieving carbon neutrality.
• Inform policymakers and stakeholders about viable strategies, practices, and technologies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable development.

Dr. Rafael E. Vásquez
Dr. Cesar Nieto-Londoño
Dr. Zulamita Zapata-Benabithe
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• carbon footprint management
• carbon neutrality
• decarbonization strategies
• energy transition
• greenhouse gas reduction
• process automation for sustainability
• renewable energy
• smart and digital technologies
• smart energy systems
• sustainable development