Topic: Beyond Carbon Accounting: Data-Driven Pathways for Regional Net-Zero Transitions and Sustainable Development

Achieving regional net-zero emissions requires moving beyond conventional carbon accounting toward data-driven approaches that can inform decision-making and accelerate sustainable development. Recent advances in artificial intelligence, big data analytics, digital twins, remote sensing, life cycle assessment, and integrated modeling have greatly enhanced our ability to quantify carbon footprints, identify emission hotspots, evaluate mitigation strategies, and optimize regional decarbonization pathways. These technologies provide new opportunities to integrate multi-source data and support evidence-based climate governance across diverse socioeconomic and environmental contexts.

This Special Issue aims to showcase innovative research that advances regional carbon footprint assessment beyond emissions inventories by integrating digital technologies, interdisciplinary methodologies, and policy-oriented analyses. We welcome original research, reviews, and case studies that explore data-driven solutions for regional carbon management, net-zero transitions, and sustainable development, with a focus on improving environmental performance, resource efficiency, and climate resilience.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

● Regional carbon footprint assessment and spatial carbon accounting;

● Artificial intelligence and big data for carbon management and decision-making;

● Life cycle assessment and environmental footprint analysis;

● Digital twins, remote sensing, and GIS for carbon monitoring;

● Regional energy systems and net-zero transition pathways;

● Industrial decarbonization and circular economy;

● Sustainable urban and rural development;

● Carbon governance, climate policy, and carbon markets;

● Integrated assessment models and scenario analysis;

● Sustainable development planning and climate resilience.

Regional carbon footprint, net-zero transition, data-driven sustainability, carbon accounting, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, life cycle assessment, digital twins, industrial decarbonization, energy transition, circular economy, climate policy, carbon neutrality, remote sensing, sustainable development