Achieving global net-zero emissions requires advances in low-carbon technologies, carbon removal, nature-based solutions (NbS), and efficient resource management to address climate change and environmental challenges.

Building on the strong response to the first special issue, Pathways to Carbon Neutrality and Low-Carbon Energy Transition in China: Policy, Technology, and Systemic Innovation, this 2^nd installment of the Carbon Neutrality Special Issue Series aims to further advance research on practical and innovative pathways toward net-zero. It welcomes contributions on carbon-neutrality technologies, nature-based carbon sequestration, water–energy–carbon interactions, waste valorization, resource recovery, and low-carbon environmental management.

This Special Issue particularly encourages studies that demonstrate clear environmental relevance, including technological advances, experimental investigations, environmental impact assessments, and life-cycle analyses related to carbon reduction, pollution control, water and waste management, and resource efficiency. Research from diverse geographical contexts is welcome, provided that it offers meaningful insights into environmental protection and the implementation of sustainable net-zero solutions.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

1. Emerging Technologies for Carbon Neutrality

• Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS)
• Direct air capture and other carbon dioxide removal technologies
• Renewable energy integration, green hydrogen, and energy storage
• Low-carbon technologies for industrial processes and environmental applications

2. Nature-Based Solutions and Ecosystem Carbon Sequestration

• Nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation
• Carbon sequestration in forests, wetlands, soils, and aquatic ecosystems
• Blue carbon, ecosystem restoration, and environmental sustainability
• Interactions between carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and ecosystem health

3. Water, Waste, and Resource Management for Net-Zero Transitions

• Water–energy–carbon nexus and integrated resource management
• Carbon emission reduction in water and wastewater treatment
• Waste valorization, resource recovery, and circular economy approaches
• Low-carbon waste management and pollution control technologies
• Life-cycle assessment of low-carbon technologies and environmental impacts

4. Environmental Assessment and Sustainable Net-Zero Pathways

• Environmental impacts and sustainability assessment of carbon-neutrality technologies
• Integrated assessment of carbon reduction pathways and environmental performance
• Synergies and trade-offs between climate mitigation, pollution control, and resource efficiency
• Environmental monitoring and assessment of carbon removal technologies
• Environmental policies and governance supporting the implementation of net-zero solutions