Abstract The increasing global industrialization and over-exploitation of fossil fuels has induced the release of greenhouse gases, leading to an increase in global temperature and causing environmental issues. There is therefore an urgent necessity to reach net-zero carbon emissions. Only 4.5% of countries have achieved carbon neutrality, and most countries are still planning to do so by 2050–2070. Moreover, synergies between different countries have hampered synergies between adaptation and mitigation policies, as well as their co-benefits. Here, we present a strategy to reach a carbon neutral economy by examining the outcome goals of the 26th summit of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 26). Methods have been designed for mapping carbon emissions, such as input–output models, spatial systems, geographic information system maps, light detection and ranging techniques, and logarithmic mean divisia. We present decarbonization technologies and initiatives, and negative emissions technologies, and we discuss carbon trading and carbon tax. We propose plans for carbon neutrality such as shifting away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy, and the development of low-carbon technologies, low-carbon agriculture, changing dietary habits and increasing the value of food and agricultural waste. Developing resilient buildings and cities, introducing decentralized energy systems, and the electrification of the transportation sector is also necessary. We also review the life cycle analysis of carbon neutral systems. 

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Strategies to achieve a carbon neutral society: a review

Sustainable finance and renewable energy: Promoters of carbon neutrality in the United States.

The cost of adsorbent preparation and usage is an important factor that determines its suitability for use in wastewater treatment in light of other competing technologies. Adsorbent cost can be determined via the cost of raw materials, discounted cash flow, cost indices, cost of adsorbent per gram of the adsorbate removed, Annual Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operating Expenditures (OPEX), and the cost of adsorbent application in an adsorption operation. The need to unify the various concepts of adsorbent cost of different researchers and the evaluation of how the process efficiency affects the process cost prompted the need for this study. This paper aimed to review the cost of using different adsorbents for treating wastewater. It also developed a quantitative metric for comparing adsorbent costs known as the “adsorbent cost performance,” termed as Ĉ (and computed in $/mol). This was elucidated as the dollar cost of producing and using 1 g of an adsorbent for the removal of 1 mole of a chemical species in the aqueous phase, considered at the theoretical point of maximum uptake of the chemical species. There is a wide variation in adsorbent cost performance, but most adsorbents fall between 1 and 200 $/mol. Adsorbents at < 1 $/mol threshold can be considered very cheap for the intended application, while those at > 200 $/mol can be considered very expensive. More investigations into adsorbent cost analysis are encouraged, especially in routine adsorption studies, to help extend the practical relevance of these papers. 

Cost of Adsorbent Preparation and Usage in Wastewater Treatment: A Review

This review gives concise information on green technology (GT) and Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0). Climate change has begun showing its impacts on the environment, and the change is real. The devastating COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected lives and the world from the deadly consequences at a social, economic, and environmental level. In order to balance this crisis, there is a need to transition toward green, sustainable forms of living and practices. We need green innovative technologies (GTI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to develop green, durable, biodegradable, and eco-friendly products for a sustainable future. GTI encompasses all innovations that contribute to developing significant products, services, or processes that lower environmental harm, impact, and worsening while augmenting natural resource utilization. Sensors are typically used in IoT environmental monitoring applications to aid ecological safety by nursing air or water quality, atmospheric or soil conditions, and even monitoring species' movements and habitats. The industries and the governments are working together, have come up with solutions-the Green New Deal, carbon pricing, use of bio-based products as biopesticides, in biopharmaceuticals, green building materials, bio-based membrane filters for removing pollutants, bioenergy, biofuels and are essential for the green recovery of world economies. Environmental biotechnology, Green Chemical Engineering, more bio-based materials to separate pollutants, and product engineering of advanced materials and environmental economies are discussed here to pave the way toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN and achieve the much-needed IR 4.0 for a greener-balanced environment and a sustainable future. 

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Recent advances in green technology and Industrial Revolution 4.0 for a sustainable future

Adsorption mechanisms for cadmium from aqueous solutions by oxidant-modified biochar derived from Platanus orientalis Linn leaves

Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) contaminations are disturbing environmental issues, which causes serious harm to aqueous systems and human health. Therefore, removing them from aqueous solution is essential to prevent its damage to the environment. Environmental adsorption research as one solution has seen a boom over the past decade. Using modified biochar has proved to be more suitable for the adsorption of cadmium and lead. Most of the studies apply a routine method such as kinetic and isotherm modelling to demonstrate the macroscopic trend of adsorption, often without elaborative evaluation of the effectiveness and characteristics of the models. This review compiles different adsorption kinetics and isotherms models and also presents their origins, modified versions, and their applicability in the liquid adsorption situation. The effect of experimental parameters and adsorption mechanisms are discussed to study the adsorption performances of modified biochar. The adsorption mechanism was majorly by surface precipitation, ion exchange, electrostatic attraction, complexation and physical adsorption. The adsorption was majorly endothermic and spontaneous. Additionally, preparation and regeneration of modified biochar are also presented to provide a direction for sustainable improvement. This paper summarizes with a note on challenges, prospects and future perspectives of adsorption of cadmium and lead pollutions.

Adsorption of cadmium and lead from aqueous solution using modified biochar: A review

Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) contaminations are disturbing environmental issues, which cause serious harm to aqueous systems and human health. Therefore, removing them from aqueous solution is essential to prevent their damage to the environment. Environmental adsorption research as one solution is promising and has been getting a lot of attention in the recent years. Using modified biochar has proved to be more suitable for the adsorption of cadmium and lead. In this review, the sources of cadmium and lead in the environment and their hazards have been elucidated. In addition, the preparation methods of modified biochar to remove Cd and Pb have been discussed. This review also presents the adsorption kinetics and isotherms results for the adsorption of Cd and Pb from aqueous solution using modified biochar. The effect of experimental parameters and adsorption mechanisms are also discussed in order to understand the adsorption performances of modified biochar in great detail. The adsorption mechanisms were surface precipitation, surface complexation, ion exchange, chelation, electrostatic attraction, inner sphere complexation, redox and physical adsorption. The adsorption was mainly endothermic and spontaneous. Additionally, the results on the regeneration of modified biochar are presented to provide a direction for sustainable improvement. Finally, this review article also provides the challenges, prospects and future perspectives of adsorption of cadmium and lead from aqueous solutions using the modified biochar. 

Nigel Townson

Papers

Adsorption of cadmium and lead from aqueous solution using modified biochar: A review

Adsorption of cadmium and lead from aqueous solution using modified biochar: A review

Implications of COVID-19 on global environmental pollution and carbon emissions with strategies for sustainability in the COVID-19 era

Implications of COVID-19 on global environmental pollution and carbon emissions with strategies for sustainability in the COVID-19 era.

Recent advances, current issues and future prospects of bioenergy production: A review