Traffic Emissions, Urban Air Quality, and Climate Change: Monitoring, Modeling, and Mitigation Pathways

The transportation sector is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions and urban air pollution, accounting for a significant share of CO₂, NOx, particulate matter, and other climate-relevant pollutants. Rapid urbanization, motorization, and expanding logistics networks have intensified traffic-related emissions, particularly in megacities and developing regions. In addition to contributing to global climate change, traffic emissions pose severe health risks and exacerbate urban heat island effects. While vehicle electrification and cleaner fuels offer promising pathways, uncertainties remain regarding real-world emission performance, lifecycle impacts, traffic dynamics, and the integration of emerging technologies. Advances in big data analytics, remote sensing, intelligent transportation systems, and high-resolution emission modeling provide new opportunities to better understand and mitigate the climate impacts of road transport.This Research Topic aims to advance scientific understanding of the interactions between traffic emissions, urban air quality, and climate change. We seek contributions that quantify emission patterns under real-world driving conditions, evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation strategies, and explore policy-relevant pathways toward low-carbon and climate-resilient transport systems. Particular attention will be given to high-resolution emission inventories, data-driven traffic monitoring, integration of satellite and ground-based observations, and machine learning applications in emission estimation and forecasting.We also welcome studies assessing the climate co-benefits of air pollution control, electrification strategies, modal shifts, smart traffic management, and carbon-neutral urban planning. Interdisciplinary approaches that connect transportation engineering, environmental science, atmospheric chemistry, and climate modeling are especially encouraged. By bringing together empirical, modeling, and policy perspectives, this Research Topic aims to inform decision-makers and support evidence-based strategies for achieving carbon neutrality and improving urban environmental sustainability.This Research Topic welcomes original research articles, reviews, methodological papers, data reports, and policy perspectives related to traffic emissions and climate impacts. Suggested themes include, but are not limited to:• Real-world vehicle emission measurements and emission factors• High-resolution emission inventories and spatiotemporal modeling• Traffic big data and intelligent monitoring systems• Electrification, alternative fuels, and lifecycle assessment• Climate-air quality co-benefits analysis• Urban transport planning and carbon mitigation strategies• Impacts of emerging mobility (e.g., shared mobility, autonomous vehicles)Submissions that integrate advanced data analytics, interdisciplinary modeling frameworks, or comparative regional case studies are particularly encouraged. Contributions should provide novel insights, methodological innovation, or policy relevance in the context of climate change mitigation and sustainable transport systems. Topic editors: Fei Yu, Ajit Singh, Qun Wang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84694/traffic-emissions-urban-air-quality-and-climate-change-monitoring-modeling-and-mitigation-pathways