Carbon, the sixth element in the periodic table, is widely present in various organic and inorganic forms in the atmosphere, soil and geological formations, water, and biota. The carbon cycle describes the transfer of both carbon and energy among different reservoirs located on the Earth. In the “Carbon Age” (spanning the years 1750-2100 AD), energy derived from carbon stored in fossil fuels has rapidly advanced modern civilization, but it has come at the cost of increased emissions of the greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change.

As described by Professor Fengchang Wu, the Editor-in-Chief of Carbon Research, humans have entered a crucial stage of the “Carbon Age” with a deeper understanding of carbon and its implications for human wellbeing and ecosystem health, resulting in improved carbon management strategies. For example, excessive emissions of greenhouse gases (e.g., carbon dioxide and methane) have led to global climate change, thereby forcing the vigorous promotion of carbon emission reduction, carbon capture and storage around the world, and urging the expedient achievement of carbon neutrality.

The connotation and extension of carbon and its related research are constantly expanding in the “Carbon Age”. The carbon cycle of natural ecosystems has increasingly become a primary research topic, with the focus on “air-water-land integration” involving vegetation (green carbon), ocean (blue carbon), soil (black carbon), and atmosphere (brown carbon). To address the climate challenge, research needs to: i) focus on improving the understanding and carbon sink capacity of ecological systems, ii) prioritize the reduction of discharge of carbonaceous pollutants and greenhouse gases, and iii) develop systems where more sustainable use of carbon resources will be made possible by innovations in the “Carbon Age”.

Photosynthesis is a fundamental process resulting in the sequestration of atmospheric CO2 as organic forms of carbon. This carbon is utilized for renewable energy production, food, and soil carbon sequestration. When managed carefully in an ecological way, soil organic carbon can result in a drawdown of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide can also be stored as inorganic carbon (carbonates and bicarbonates) in oceans, soils and geological formations, processes which can be potentially manipulated to accelerate further drawdown of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

As nations around the world strive for carbon neutrality, i.e., the balancing of emissions of carbon dioxide with its removal, scientists need to work with industries, policy makers and community stakeholders to lower net emissions, and concomitantly develop and implement carbon drawdown strategies. The focus should be on industrial and agricultural carbon emission reduction, promoting the development of new low-carbon industries, and developing new technologies and equipment for carbon capture, storage, and emission reduction. Combined with the mitigation of carbon emissions source, these measures provide strong technical support for the realization of the “Carbon Neutrality” goal.

At this current yet crucial stage of the “Carbon Age”, scientists should aim to achieve the ultimate goal of reducing carbon emission with a particular focus on the following four areas:

  1. 1.

    Development and application of carbon-based materials: The emerging field of carbon-based materials boasts new opportunities. The fundamental theories, technical principles, and key innovative technologies for the research and development of materials with superior properties such as silicon carbide, biochar, carbon nanotubes, and graphene should be vigorously developed. A more evolved industrial supply chain should be developed by strengthening large-scale production and application of green, low-cost, and high-efficiency carbon-based materials.

  2. 2.

    Key biogeochemical processes of carbon and the global carbon cycle: Fundamental research on the global carbon cycle and key biogeochemical processes will increase the carbon sink capacity of terrestrial and marine ecosystems; enhance the chemical and biological transformation of carbon dioxide in natural ecosystems and promote the recycling of carbon resources; build accurate and efficient models of the global carbon cycle; predict climate change under different scenarios; and guide the formulation of science-based climate change policies.

  3. 3.

    Green energy and sustainable development: The focus of research in this area should be on sustainable co-production of food and biomass; research and development on reductions of carbon emission and pollution, and new materials and technologies to gradually replace fossil energy and materials; and promotion of clean production and efficient energy use.

  4. 4.

    Realization and path to carbon neutrality: Carbon neutrality is related to both reducing existing emissions as well as developing and implementing carbon drawdown procedures. This would include research on new technologies for carbon capture and storage; research on the theories, standards and benchmarks, and policies for low-carbon sustainable development such as carbon footprint and carbon accounting; exploration of policies and regulations of “carbon neutrality” strategies and the establishment and improvement of carbon emission benchmarks and standards; exploration of systems such as a carbon tax, carbon emission trading and carbon accounting in advance; and implementation of the established carbon emission objectives.

The “Carbon Age” is full of opportunities and challenges. Focusing on key research areas should not be limited to those identified above and filling the gaps in knowledge in the "carbon cycle". Several innovative achievements in theories and technologies are emerging as important cornerstones for sustainable development. Theoretical advances, technological breakthroughs, novel product innovations, and formulation of policies and regulations in carbon research will become multi-directional driving forces for socio-economic development towards the realization of carbon neutrality. However, there are also difficulties and obstacles. In the practice of conversion to low carbon emission energy, energy storage and other technological or economic barriers currently limit widescale adoption. Moreover, the lengthy research and development cycle of carbon emission reduction technologies for enterprises is inadequate to meet the urgent requirements of shift towards carbon neutral socio-economic development.

“Carbon Research” will focus on the achievements in multiple fields such as the in-depth concepts of carbon neutrality, innovative theories, and technological research and development of carbon in the “Carbon Age”. It will promote theoretical innovation and industrial development through interdisciplinary research, and lead to new trends and a paradigm shift in carbon research and technology adoption through international cooperation.