Sustainable Solutions for Pollution and Climate Challenges: The Role of Technology in Agriculture, Water Systems, and Health Risk Mitigation

Sustainable solutions for addressing pollution and climate challenges are essential to safeguard agriculture, water systems, and public health. Climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions and interacting with environmental pollution, has led to more frequent and intense extreme weather events, shifting precipitation patterns, and rising temperatures, all of which threaten agricultural productivity and water availability. Pollution from agricultural runoff, industrial waste, and urbanization contaminates water sources, exacerbating water scarcity and increasing risks to human health.

Interdisciplinary research that integrates earth system science, environmental monitoring, and management strategies offers critical pathways for understanding and mitigating these challenges. Solutions-led approaches—such as leveraging precision agriculture and Earth observation (including satellite sensors, drones, and integrated monitoring)—enhance our ability to assess climate variability, optimize resource management under climate stress, and address pollution dynamics. Climate-resilient irrigation and adaptive water management, such as drip irrigation, are increasingly vital under altered precipitation and drought regimes. The adoption of renewable energy technologies, such as solar-powered pumps and low-emission systems, creates mitigation–adaptation co-benefits by reducing emissions from agriculture and water operations. Safe and adaptive water management—including treatment technologies where contextually relevant—can help protect water quality and ensure resilience to climate-driven contamination. Furthermore, integrated air and water quality monitoring supports early-warning systems, risk assessment, and timely interventions to address health risks associated with both pollution and climate extremes.

This Research Topic aims to unite high-quality original research articles, reviews, and case studies that present interdisciplinary perspectives and solutions relevant to the climate–pollution nexus. We seek to showcase innovative approaches that connect environmental processes, monitoring, modeling, and management or policy applications aligned with the goals of climate action and sustainable development. Themes welcomed include, but are not limited to:
• The intersection of climate change and pollution in shaping risks to agriculture, water systems, and public health—focusing on extreme events, compounding hazards, and contamination.
• Precision agriculture and Earth observation (sensors, drones, and satellite data) to monitor, forecast, and optimize management of water and nutrients, supporting pollution reduction.
• Climate-resilient irrigation and adaptive water management strategies (e.g., drip irrigation) under changing precipitation and drought conditions.
• Renewable and low-emission energy solutions integrated into agriculture and water systems for climate mitigation and adaptation.
• Health risk mitigation through advanced air and water quality monitoring, exposure assessment, early warning, and preventive management in a changing climate.