Carbon Neutrality and Energy Transition in the Digital Era

Dear Colleagues,

To cope with the challenges to sustainability brought on by global warming, countries around the world are actively cooperating and developing strategies to promote energy transition and reduce carbon emissions. The Paris Agreement defines the goal of achieving global carbon neutrality by 2065–2070 and also sets a clear path for international cooperation to pursue carbon neutrality. The pursuit of carbon neutrality means a shift from an energy system dominated by fossil fuels to renewables, and a shift from a carbon-intensive model of development to a low-carbon one. In addition, digital technology is increasingly embedded in the link between energy systems and economic and social development, and digital technology can help to promote the realization of the goal of energy system transformation and low-carbon development. The transition of the energy system brings the challenge of an unstable energy supply, while the low-carbon transition has the risks inherent to all transitions. The instability of new energy systems and the uncertainty of the low-carbon transition can be greatly reduced if digital technologies are used effectively. The pursuit of carbon neutrality in the digital age presents new opportunities, but it is also faced with the challenge of a surging energy demand. Hence, more research is needed on carbon neutrality and energy transformation in the digital age. This Topic will focus on economics, management science, geographic information, and energy science or related research, and examine the progress of global carbon neutrality and energy transition in the digital age through econometric empirical analysis, regional simulation, systems science, and energy engineering. The Topic will focus on the challenges of transforming energy systems and low-carbon development in the digital age and its digital solutions, supporting technologies, and management strategies. This Topic welcomes innovative research into advancing carbon-neutral processes and developing low-carbon transition in the digital age, and will consider papers using methods such as data analysis, data science, predictive models, systems optimization, etc.; all methods or application challenges are welcome.

Dr. Huwei Wen
Dr. Lei Jiang
Topic Editors