A preface to the special issue of optimization and engineering dedicated to SDEWES 2020 conferences

Abstract

Global warming and climate change call for urgent minimization of the impact of human activities on the environment. There is a great need for the improvement of resource efficiencies by integrating various life-supporting systems. The challenge is on the energy, water and environment systems to integrate and become more sustainable. This research field has received increased attention over the past years with studies across the energy, water and environment systems that optimized different engineering problems. The present Special Issue stems from four Conferences on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems held in 2020, in four countries of three continents. This review introduction article intends to introduce the topical field and the articles included in this Special Issue of Optimization and Engineering.

Introductory remarks on the special issue of Optimization and Engineering dedicated to SDEWES 2021 conference

“…It is believed that the content of this third Special Issue of the OPTE journal will attract the interest of its readers, constituting a valuable addition to the knowledge body established by the previous SI's: the inaugural one, dated January 2021 (editorial by Mikulčić et al 2021) and the second SI, dated July 2021 (editorial by Trafczyński et al, 2021).…”

“…The second OPTE SI (Trafczyński et al 2021) was dedicated to the four SDEWES 2020 Conferences held in South America, Australia and Europe. It included ten contributions dealing with data collection and optimization of engineering decisions related to the problem areas of Energy and Environment.…”