Accelerating Breakthroughs in Carbon and Hydrogen Research for a Sustainable Future

From the perspective of primary energy sources, human civilization has experienced the firewood era, the fossil fuel era, and now is entering the postfossil fuel era. Fossil fuels have dominated production and daily life since the Industrial Revolution, but their decline is inevitable—driven by global warming, greenhouse gas control, and the goals of carbon neutrality. Although fossil fuels will remain critical energy pillars during this transition, global climate imperatives demand redefining the roles of carbon and hydrogen—from industrial workhorses to molecular architects of sustainability. Energy transition is now irreversible, and we must seek low-carbon alternatives. Solar and wind energy are abundant and hold great potential as future primary energy sources. However, their intermittent nature challenges stable supply, necessitating further advancements in energy storage technology. Hydrogen, emitting only water when oxidized to generate energy, stands as a truly clean energy source and a crucial direction for energy storage development. Carbon element is ubiquitous in the atmosphere, mineral resources, wastes, and living organisms. The carbon cycle, which governs its natural movement, is vital for maintaining ecological balance and impacts life processes and environmental responses. Carbon and hydrogen are key elements in energy and chemical industry. In the context of carbon neutrality, efficient transformation and utilizations of carbon and hydrogen in different fields are pivotal. Carbon and Hydrogen (formerly China Petroleum Processing and Petrochemical Technology) emerges as an open access, global, and interdisciplinary journal dedicated to accelerating breakthroughs in carbon- and hydrogen-related science and technology. By bridging fundamental research and real-world applications, the journal covers all of the important topics related with carbon and hydrogen. We aim to unite global researchers to accelerate scientific breakthroughs and their applications, promoting green and sustainable development. The journal's mission aligns with the principles of Green Carbon Science and sustainable development. We invite submissions mainly from the following areas: Fossil resources: Fossil fuels remain critical in the energy transition. Their green and efficient utilization eases energy security pressures while buying time for renewables to mature. We seek research on efficiency upgrades, environmental-economic analysis, and renewable transition pathways. Catalysis: Catalysts enable efficient and precise control of carbon and/or hydrogen reactions. Submissions on catalyst design, mechanisms, and process optimization are welcome. Sustainable carbon resources: Biomass, waste plastics, and other renewable carbon sources are key elements of the circular economy. Research on recycling technologies and value-added conversions of carbon containing materials are encouraged. Carbon dioxide: Concentrate on the innovative transformation strategies of CO2 into chemicals, materials, and fuels. These strategies can reduce emissions while creating economic value, bridging industrial activity and ecological balance. Hydrogen: The hydrogen domain covers the production, storage, transportation, and application of hydrogen or its derivatives as an energy carrier and environmental impact of hydrogen energy utilization. Its development can promote energy transition and carbon neutrality. Carbon materials: Carbon materials have been key foundation materials throughout human civilization. This journal reports the achievements for green synthesis, characterization, and application of advanced carbon materials in energy sectors. By contributing to Carbon and Hydrogen, you become a part of an international research collective driving the energy transition. Together, we can explore solutions for a carbon-neutral future.