Systemic Footprints of the Water-Energy-Carbon Nexus: From Life Cycle Assessment to Integrated Modeling

Dear Colleagues,

Global climate change, water scarcity, and the energy crisis are deeply intertwined, with water–energy–carbon systems closely linked and mutually constraining. Traditional single-dimensional research—focusing solely on carbon or water—is no longer sufficient to address these complex real-world challenges and may even lead to flawed decision-making (e.g., drastically increasing water consumption in the pursuit of carbon reduction). It is therefore essential to adopt a systematic and interdisciplinary approach to comprehensively assess the impacts of human activities. While environmental assessment methods, such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the Water Footprint Network’s water footprint approach, are considered important tools for evaluating environmental impact, their application to the water–energy–carbon nexus still faces significant challenges. These include difficulties in data acquisition, inconsistent definition of system boundaries, and a lack of dynamic and spatially explicit assessment models.

This Special Issue aims to gather the latest methodological research from scholars worldwide on assessing coupled water–energy–carbon systems using various methodologies, including but not limited to LCA and water footprint analysis. We encourage submissions proposing new models, frameworks, and indicators that can more accurately quantify the complex trade-offs and synergies among these three dimensions, thereby offering solutions to the aforementioned methodological challenges. By compiling cutting-edge studies from various sectors (e.g., agriculture, energy, and urban infrastructure), different regions, and diverse technological pathways, this issue aims to provide a robust scientific foundation for accelerating the transition toward a sustainable future.

The topics include, but are not limited to:

• Methodological Innovations in Life Cycle Assessment of Water–Energy–Carbon Nexus Systems;
• Development of Dynamic and Spatially Explicit LCA Models;
• Integrated Assessment and Frameworks for Water, Energy, and Carbon Footprints;
• System Boundary Delineation and Uncertainty Analysis in LCA;
• Applications of Multi-Regional Input–Output (MRIO) Analysis in Nexus Studies;
• Sector-Scale Coupling Mechanisms and Synergistic Management of W-E-C;
• Urban Water–Energy–Carbon Metabolism and Sustainable Transition Pathways;
• Footprint Assessment and Emission Reduction Strategies in Agri-Food Systems;
• Water-Carbon Trade-offs and Sustainability Performance of Renewable Energy Technologies;
• Life Cycle Water Footprint of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) Technologies;
• Co-Benefit Assessment of Industrial Water and Energy Conservation Technologies;
• Energy–Water–Carbon Interlinkages in Waste Treatment and Resource Recovery Processes;
• Potential Impacts of Transportation Energy Transition on Water–Carbon Systems;
• Assessment of Synergistic Effects of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS);
• Optimization and Policy Simulation of Water–Energy Systems for Carbon Neutrality;
• Sustainable Design and Management at Product and Infrastructure Levels;
• Virtual Water, Embodied Energy, and Embodied Carbon Flows in Transboundary Trade;
• Assessing Water–Energy–Carbon Impacts of Sustainable Consumption Behaviors;
• Life Cycle Thinking in Climate Adaptation and Water Resources Management;
• Policy Translation and Decision Support for Nexus Research.

Dr. Saige Wang
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Water 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 2600 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.

• life cycle assessment (LCA)
• water–energy–carbon nexus
• environmental footprints
• sustainability assessment
• coupled systems
• trade-offs and synergies
• interdisciplinary approaches
• resource management