Editor’s Note

Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering (FESE journal) is committed to advancing environmental protection and achieving the sustainable development goals. It strongly aligns with the vision of “Towards A Pollution-Free Planet". The School of Environment, Tsinghua University, a staunch supporter and solid backbone for FESE, actively engages in the practices aiming at achieving a pollution-free planet. On the occasion of the school’s 40th anniversary, the FESE journal publishes a special issue titled "Towards a Pollution-Free Planet", to congratulate the School on its four decades of abundant achievements and to look forward to a future of continued and fruitful collaboration.

Together towards a pollution-free planet

Jiuhui Qu, Jiming Hao, Yi Qian

“Towards a pollution-free planet” is one of the three strategic objectives proposed in United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)’s Medium-Term Strategy for 2022—2025 which framed UNEP’s contribution in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Decade of Action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals and beyond. It aims at a planet where pollution is prevented and controlled, and good environmental quality and improved health and well-being are ensured for all. Achieving this objective requires joint efforts from diverse sectors, including environmental protection, green development, carbon mitigation, pollution control, etc.

Scholars, engineers, and experts in the environmental field have been dedicated to scientific and technological innovation and engineering practices aiming at a better environment. The goal of “towards a pollution-free planet” has been substantially advanced through active collaborations and exchanges, regionally, inter-regionally, and internationally. FESE shares its vision of promoting environmental protection and achieving sustainable development goals. As the end year of the Medium-Term Strategy for 2022—2025 draws near, we also recognize the need for long-term and extensive international communication and cooperation to protect our shared home—Earth. Therefore, we organized this special issue with the theme of “Towards a pollution-free planet”.

This special issue contains an outlook on the blueprint of “moving towards a pollution-free planet” to enhance human well-being. It concerns the environmental exposure and health effects of high-risk pollutants; summarizes and looks forward to the development of pollution monitoring and control technologies; and covers effective strategies for carbon reduction practiced by society, industry, and individuals in the context of climate change. Covering diverse environmental media, such as the atmosphere, water, and soil, this special issue provides effective measures being and to be implemented in moving towards a pollution-free planet.

We would like to extend our thanks to all of our authors for their trust. We would also like to thank all the anonymous reviewers for their contributions to this special issue. With the release of this special issue, we acknowledge that the path to a pollution-free planet remains a significant and challenging journey. This reality underscores the necessity of mustering additional strength and exerting more intensive efforts to fulfill our fervent aspirations for a cleaner planet.

Together, towards a pollution-free planet!

Articles Include

Together towards a pollution-free planet

Jiuhui Qu，Jiming Hao，Yi Qian

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2024, 18(6): 66

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1826-1

Pathways toward a pollution-free planet and challenges

Jiuhui Qu, Jiaping Chen

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2024, 18(6): 67

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1827-0

FESE观点 | 曲久辉院士：迈向零污染地球的路径与挑战

Challenges and perspectives of air pollution control in China

Bin Zhao, Shuxiao Wang, Jiming Hao

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2024, 18(6): 68

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1828-z

FESE观点 | 郝吉明院士、王书肖教授：中国空气污染控制的挑战和展望

Intensifying electrified flow-through water treatment technologies via local environment modification

Zheng-Yang Huo, Xiaoxiong Wang , Xia Huang , Menachem Elimelech

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2024, 18(6): 69

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1829-y

FESE观点 | Menachem Elimelech院士：局部反应环境调控强化穿透式电化学水处理技术

Your personal choices in transportation and food are important for lowering carbon emissions

Bruce Logan, Fang Zhang, Wulin Yang, Le Shi

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2024, 18(6): 70

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1830-5

FESE观点 | Bruce Logan院士：从舌尖到车轮的日常减碳力量

A beautiful China initiative towards the harmony between humanity and the nature

Changbo Qin, Qiang Xue, Jiawei Zhang, Lu Lu, Shangao Xiong, Yang Xiao, Xiaojing Zhang, Jinnan Wang

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2024, 18(6): 71

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1831-4

FESE观点 | 王金南院士：迈向人与自然和谐相处的美丽中国建设

Scientitc and technological innovations of wastewater treatment in China

Hui Huang, Rui Ma, Honggiang Ren

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2024, 18(6): 72

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1832-3

FESE观点 | 任洪强院士：中国污水处理领域的科技创新

Needs and challenges of optical atmospheric monitoring on the background of carbon neutrality in China

Wenqing Liu, Chengzhi Xing

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2024, 18(6): 73

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1833-2

FESE综述 | 刘文清院士：碳中和背景下我国大气光学监测技术的需求与挑战

Paving the way toward soil safety and health: current status, challenges, and potential solutions

Chiheng Chu, Lizhong Zhu

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2024, 18(6): 74

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1834-1

FESE综述 | 朱利中院士：土壤安全与健康面临的挑战与应对策略

Recent advances, challenges, and perspectives on carbon capture

Shihan Zhang, Yao Shen, Chenghang Zheng, Qianqian Xu, Yifang Sun, Min Huang, Lu Li, Xiongwei Yang, Hao Zhou, Heliang Ma, Zhendong Li, Yuanhang Zhang, Wenqing Liu, Xiang Gao

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2024, 18(6): 75

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1835-0

FESE综述 | 高翔院士：碳捕集的现状和展望

Advances and perspectives in environmental health research in China

Tong Zhu, Yingjun Liu, Shunqing Xu, Guanghui Dong, Cunrui Huang, Nan Sang, Yunhui Zhang, Guanyong Su, Jingwen Chen, Jicheng Gong, Guohua Qin, Xinghua Qiu, Jing Shang, Haobo Wang, Pengpeng Wang, Mei Zheng

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2024, 18(6): 76

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1836-z

FESE观点 | 朱彤院士：中国环境健康研究展望

Effects of acid deposition control in China: a review based on responses of subtropical forests

Danni Xie, Xiaodong Ge, Lei Duan, Jan Mulder

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2024, 18(6): 77

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1837-y

FESE综述 | Mulder Jan院士和段雷教授：中国酸性气体减排的生态环境效益

Radical innovation breakthroughs of biodegradation of plastics by insects: history, present and future perspectives

Shan-Shan Yang, Wei-Min Wu, Federica Bertocchini, Mark Eric Benbow, Suja P. Devipriya, Hyung Joon Cha, Bo-Yu Peng, Meng-Qi Ding, Lei He, Mei-Xi Li, Chen-Hao Cui, Shao-Nan Shi, Han-Jun Sun, Ji-Wei Pang, Defu He, Yalei Zhang, Jun Yang, Deyi Hou, De-Feng Xing Nan-Qi Ren1, Jie Ding1, Craig S. Criddle

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2024, 18(6): 78

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1838-x

FESE综述 | 颠覆性的创新突破：昆虫生物降解塑料的历史、进展和前景

Edited by | Yue Gao, Jiao Zhang

Checked by | Xia Huang

Journal Introduction

Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering is a comprehensive academic journal in the field of environmental science, jointly sponsored by the Higher Education Press, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Tsinghua University. The journal focuses on cutting-edge issues and research findings in environmental studies, with a particular emphasis on innovative and interdisciplinary research. It aims to establish a high-level academic exchange platform with international influence. It is one of the journals of Chinese Academy of Engineering, and is supported by the Key Journal Project of the Excellence Action Plan for China’s STM Journals.

Editors-in-Chief: Academician Jiuhui Qu, Academician John Crittenden

Journal Website 1 (Free Access Domestically)

http://journal.hep.com.cn/fese

Journal Website 2

www.springer.com/journal/11783