Introduction

In the last two decades, excessive population growth and economic development have extensively increased energy demand in the industry and service sectors, and conventional energy sources are primarily fulfilling this energy demand. However, on the other hand, the burning of fossil fuels, anthropogenic activities, and other unsustainable practices have increased greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change and global warming. In such a scenario, sustainable energy and green technology applications may offer long-term solutions to this problem and can also meet the future energy demand. In most of the studies, it has also been reported that the effective use of sustainable energy sources has the potential to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

Most of countries are presently facing climate change as one of their biggest concerns, and that is the reason they have started shifting towards green energy. It is expected that current generations would support such actions, and new policies, and promote the use of green technologies to ensure environmental sustainability. Though the researchers are working hard to improve the efficiency and affordability of sustainable energy sources to enhance energy security for nations still, more research and collaborative efforts are needed as a collective global response to face the challenges of environmental degradation. In conclusion, research and developments in the field of sustainable energy, environment, and green technologies are vital for a more sustainable and resilient future for both the environment and society.

About ICSEEGT 2022

The Second International Conference on Sustainable Energy, Environment and Green Technologies (ICSEEGT 2022) was organized on June 24–25, 2022, at Poornima College of Engineering Jaipur, India, in hybrid mode. The presented papers were submitted to the IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environment Science and ESPR journal for publication as conference proceedings and as a special issue, respectively.

The three tracks of sustainable/renewable energy, environment, transportation engineering, green technologies, and urban development were taken into consideration while inviting research articles for this conference. Professor S.A. Sherif, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, USA, Professor L.M. Das, Former Professor, Centre for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India, and Dr. L. N. Thakural, Senior Scientist, Surface Water Division, National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, India, were present at the inaugural session as the invited dignitaries. Forty-three papers were presented in hybrid mode during the first day’s technical sessions. Forty more accepted papers were presented on the second day of this conference. Enthusiastic presenters and attendees attended every technical session. In between, there were keynote sessions of eminent speakers of international institutions and industries were also organized during the conference. At the end of the second day of the valedictory ceremony, Dr. Herb S. Rhee, Managing Director, of Innovative Technology and Energy Centre (ITEC), Tanzania, joined as the chief guest. Dr. Anand K. Plappally, Head, Center for Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development (CETSD), IIT Jodhpur, India, and Dr. Perumalla Janaki Ramulu, Director, Centre of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, Adama Science and Technology University, Adama, Ethiopia, were invited as the guests of honor of the ceremony. On the contrary, the event was a great success with addresses and sessions of learned persons and wholehearted participation from all our authors, co-authors, attendees, reviewers, faculty and staff members, and organizing team members.

About special issue

This special issue explores the current research, future opportunities, and socio-economic challenges of switching towards renewable energy sources with a primary focus on the environmental and future sustainability aspects. After a peer review process conducted by the journal, this special issue on “Energy, Environment, and Green Technologies for the Future Sustainability” is finally composed of three review papers and seven research articles. The included review papers present a study on (1) ionic liquid applications for energy conversion and storage, (2) methods of harvesting atmospheric moisture, and (3) the dual role of methane in climate change and its potential as a carbon-neutral energy source. The research articles present study and experimental research outcomes on (1) combustion and emission characteristics of an SI engine operated with compressed biomethane gas and alcohols, (2) a rheological study for diesel engine application using cow-urine emulsified diesel fuel, (3) a thermo-economic analysis of an active solar desalination system integrated with collective condenser heat pipe solar evacuated tube collector, (4) segmentation of OECD countries based on selected global environmental indicators, (5) utilizing stabilized municipal solid waste in road infrastructure, (6) groundwater spring potential zonation in the Eastern Himalayan region of India, and (7) identification of rainfall temporal trends using different versions of the Man-Kendall test in Mizoram, India.

The guest editor and entire organizing team of ICSEEGT 2022 are thankful to the Editor-in-Chief of the Environmental Science and Pollution Research (ESPR) journal, Professor Philippe Garrigues, for providing this opportunity to publish peer-reviewed papers that were presented at the conference. We are also thankful to Ms. Carmina Joy Cayago, JEO Assistant, Ms. Fanny Creusot and Ms. Giulia Marinaccio, Editorial Assistants of ESPR, and the entire production team at Springer Nature for their valued support in bringing out this issue successfully. We also thank all the reviewers for providing critical reviews, comments, and feedback on manuscripts that were submitted for this special issue.