Innovative Green Technologies and Sustainable Solutions for Environmental Challenges
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 648
Special Issue Editor
Interests: synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials; air pollution control; water treatment; green energy technology development; resource reuse and energy conversion
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Environmental sustainability is an urgent global challenge that requires innovative, effective solutions to address critical issues such as resource depletion, pollution, and climate change. This Special Issue aims to explore cutting-edge innovations in technologies, strategies, and policies that promote sustainable practices across various sectors. It will provide a platform for interdisciplinary research that integrates scientific, technological, and policy-driven innovations to offer comprehensive solutions to these pressing environmental problems. Key topics will include sustainable waste management, the development of renewable energy systems, eco-friendly materials, climate change adaptation strategies, and the advancement of circular economy models. This Issue will highlight how these interconnected areas can work synergistically to drive sustainability and resilience at both local and global scales. Contributions will emphasize the practical application of innovative solutions, showcasing methodologies, real-world case studies, and technologies that can be adopted across different regions and industries. The goal is to foster research that not only deepens understanding but also leads to actionable, scalable solutions capable of mitigating environmental impacts. By focusing on the potential of new technologies and policies to create a more sustainable future, this Special Issue will support the transition to a circular economy and offer valuable insights for future research and policy-making. Ultimately, it aims to advance the scientific community’s efforts to address the complex and interconnected challenges of environmental sustainability.
Scope and purpose of the Special Issue
a. Focus
This Special Issue aims to advance environmental sustainability through interdisciplinary approaches, emphasizing innovations in technologies, strategies, and policies. The goal is to explore practical solutions to pressing environmental challenges, including resource depletion, pollution, and climate change. Topics will cover advancements in sustainable waste management, renewable energy systems, eco-friendly materials, climate adaptation strategies, and circular economy models. These topics will be examined at both the local and global scales, highlighting how interdisciplinary collaboration can drive sustainability.
b. Scope
This Special Issue covers a broad range of research areas within environmental sustainability, focusing on key topics such as:
- Sustainable waste management and resource recovery;
- Renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency;
- Eco-friendly materials and green manufacturing processes;
- Climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies;
- Circular economy models emphasizing resource reuse and waste reduction;
- The integration of technological, scientific, and policy innovations to drive sustainability.
This Issue invites contributions from topics such as environmental engineering, economics, policy studies, and social sciences. It will feature theoretical studies, applied research, and case studies demonstrating real-world applications of sustainable practices.
c. Purpose
The purpose of this Special Issue is to provide a platform for sharing innovative research and fostering an interdisciplinary dialog on environmental sustainability. It aims to present actionable, scalable solutions that can be applied across industries, regions, and governance systems to mitigate environmental impacts and promote sustainability. By bringing together diverse perspectives, this Issue will facilitate knowledge exchange, promote best practices, and offer valuable insights for future research and policy-making.
Relationship with the existing literature
This Special Issue will build on the existing body of literature by offering a more holistic understanding of sustainability. It integrates interdisciplinary research across environmental engineering, economics, social sciences, and policy studies, paying particular attention to socio-economic factors that influence the adoption of sustainable practices. While substantial research already exists on sustainability—covering areas such as resource efficiency, waste management, and renewable energy—this Issue will make a unique contribution by integrating technological innovations, policy advancements, and practical applications across various sectors.
The Special Issue will complement existing research by:
- Expanding interdisciplinary approaches: Unlike the current literature which often focuses on specific disciplines, this Issue will bring together diverse fields to create a comprehensive understanding of sustainable development.
- Bridging theory and practice: Much of the existing literature is centered around theoretical frameworks. In contrast, this Special Issue will emphasize actionable, real-world solutions through case studies, methodologies, and examples that can be implemented at local, national, and global levels.
- Addressing socio-economic aspects: While ecological and technological challenges are often the focus, this Issue will also explore how policies, laws, and socio-economic factors influence the success and adoption of sustainability practices.
By supplementing the existing literature, this Special Issue will help define, measure, and quantify sustainability, providing tools for evaluating sustainability performance across diverse sectors. It will also contribute to policy development by offering evidence-based recommendations and solutions for addressing the complex, interconnected challenges of environmental sustainability.
Dr. Kui-Hao Chuang
Guest Editor
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.
Keywords
- environmental sustainability
- resource efficiency
- waste reduction
- circular economy
- renewable energy
- climate adaptation
- sustainable materials
- green technologies
- eco-friendly practices
- policy innovations
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