Inaugural editorial: the Energy and Environment Nexus

Energy and environment are inherently linked and are essential to human civilisation and prosperity. Energy, the capacity to perform work, is crucial for advancing social development, whereas the environment, encompassing the natural world inhabited by humans, animals, and plants, is vital for sustaining contemporary society. The extraction, conversion, and consumption of energy resources invariably result in waste discharged to the environmental, making the investigation of the relationship between energy and environment a scientifically, morally and philosophically important endeavour. This understanding is essential for guiding industry, the public, and policymakers in addressing the dual challenges of obtaining affordable, reliable, secure, and sustainable energy while protecting the environment.

Against this backdrop, we announce the newest scholarly journal, Energy & Environment Nexus (EEN). Through a nexus-focused theme, EEN will bridge innovation, efficiency, and professionalism; explicitly address the dynamic interplay of energy systems and environmental challenges; and foster real-world impact through a policy–industry–academia nexus.

EEN is committed to advancing innovative research and scholarly debate that address the intricate connections between environmental sustainability and energy systems. Our overall aims are to promote scientific research, advocate vigorous scientific debate, foster technological innovation and engineering ingenuity, disseminate knowledge to the public, and transcend disciplinary barriers.

Our mission emphasizes the promotion of transdisciplinary research, which is essential for effectively addressing energy–environment issues and understanding their complex interconnections. By employing open science and artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced methodologies, we aim to accelerate the development of global solutions, enabling the rapid dissemination of transdisciplinary research findings to a broad audience. Our aim is to translate latest and advanced research findings into concrete strategies by engaging and inspiring stakeholders, thus transforming research into practical technologies and policies for meaningful practical applications.

EEN will meticulously examine 10 critical domains: the interdisciplinary science of energy and the environment, renewable energy and low-carbon technologies, energy materials and nanotechnology, solid waste resource utilization, pollution control and ecological restoration, energy storage and smart systems, environmental monitoring and modeling, emerging technologies and risk management, AI in energy, the environment–policy nexus, and society and global systems.

The target audience comprises university faculties/academics, postgraduate scholars, science educators, engineers, project managers, finance and insurance professionals, and policymakers, as well as the general public interested in energy transitions and environmental stewardship, who will consider EEN essential. By synthesizing lessons from academia, industry, and governance, we seek to develop solutions that harmonize innovation with planetary health.

The EEN will be a "must-read" journal for academics, engineers, policymakers, and educators engaged in environmental stewardship and energy transitions. To guide projects that harmonize innovation with planetary health, we compile insights from academia, industry, and governance.

EEN is directed by a distinguished editorial board comprising accomplished professionals with diverse backgrounds and expertise in energy research, environmental engineering, energy economics, and policy analysis. The editorial board guarantees transdisciplinary rigor and practical relevance by uniting specialists from academia, industry, and policymaking.

Each submission will be subjected to a double-blind peer review process involving, nominally, three to six subject matter experts, including native English speakers. We adhere strictly to Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines, and deliberations by the editorial board are employed to resolve contentious issues. The integrity of publications in EEN will be ensured by a zero-tolerance policy towards misconduct, encompassing plagiarism and data fabrication.

EEN advocates for the unrestricted dissemination of knowledge. Southeast University will assume all publication expenses for the initial three years, and all content will be accessible online at no cost. We aim to achieve indexing by the Web of Science and Scopus by 2026.

In conclusion, EEN constitutes a movement rather than being merely a publication. We promote your engagement, collaboration, and support for solutions that harmonize human progress with the planet's limitations. Let us collaborate to establish a sustainable legacy.