A prospective on Energy and Environmental Science

Abstract

This Editorial commemorates the first decade of Energy & Environmental Science (EES), reviewing its remarkable success as well as outlook for the future. In the past ten years, EES filled a void by fostering research and development in energy and environmental science. The success of EES can be attributed to several factors: at initiation, EES was the only high-profile journal to rapidly publish only the highest quality energy-related research; a growing global community of vibrant energy researchers who initiated Gordon Research Conferences, international meetings, etc.; energy research becoming important in the eyes of the public, due to high oil prices and environmental issues; a generation of scientists, especially junior researchers and students, eager to embrace the challenge of a transition to net-zero emissions energy systems; increased funding for energy research internationally as well as in the U.S. at the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy. EES became the preferred option to publish high-quality, high-impact energy research, with success reflected by a record-setting impact factor for a full-featured journal.