Prospecting the engineered environmental carbon sinks and ensuring long-term sustainability of karst areas impacted by heavy metal

• Heavy metal enrichment in the karst region has seriously threatened ecosystem health. • Carbon sink engineering would maintain long-term sustainability because heavy metals extensively contaminate karst landform regions. • By reducing soil microbial community activity and karst ecosystems' ability to sequester carbon, heavy metals disrupt the carbon cycle. • Sustainable practice leads to better care for the environment and nature-friendly operations. • Only a holistic approach integrating the domains of technological innovation and governance can address the problem of heavy metal contamination. This study responds to the critical challenge of addressing heavy metal pollution and its impacts on soil carbon storage associated with rocky desertification, especially in karst areas. It showcases key strategies of eco-friendly corrosion inhibition using green inhibitors and discusses the environmental implications in soil and water structure due to hazardous pollutants like heavy metals and chemicals introduced by industries. Pollution taxes and clean technology subsidies are two ways that have successfully restrained industrial pollution while sustainably incentivizing practices. Incorporation of novel mitigation approaches into the industrial process is therefore critical to reduce heavy metal overconsumption and amplify carbon sink resilience. At its best, sustainability in business takes the shape of environmentally friendly practices like optimized supply chain functions and waste minimization that drive improved environmental responsibility and brand integrity to improve operational proficiency. The study highlights the need for interdisciplinary solutions that fit technological advances, policy responses, and stakeholder engagement to help deliver environmental stewardship alongside sustainable development. Dealing with heavy metal contamination, an effective solution, requires ongoing monitoring and remediation practices along with policies that focus on protecting ecosystems in the long term while maintaining environmental sustainability. Carbon sequestration attempts are hampered by heavy metals' persistent nature and capacity for bioaccumulation, which upset natural equilibrium. An integrated plan combined with long-term monitoring programs, strict conservation measures, and innovative solutions should be developed to maintain or improve the carbon sequestering capacity within karst landscapes for a sustainable future. This holistic strategy is important for a complicated issue like heavy metal pollution in karst areas.