By Jace Gibson ’26

Shenandoah University’s Giles Jackson, Ph.D., Baxa Family Endowed Chair in Stakeholder Capitalism and director of the Institute for Business, Sustainability & Society, has been appointed guest editor for two special issues for Energy Nexus, an international journal published by Elsevier. Jackson will serve alongside Dr. Qing (Emily) Yang of Harvard University’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Together, they will oversee peer review, curate contributions from leading researchers, and synthesize the key scientific and policy debates at the heart of both issues.

The first special issue will focus on carbon dioxide removal (CDR), an area gaining prominence as current global policies remain insufficient to limit warming to 1.5 degrees celsius, the goal set 10 years ago by the international community, Dr. Jackson said. Oxford University researchers estimate that removing 7-10 billion metric tons of CO2 annually by mid-century may be necessary to stay aligned with global climate goals. 

“Carbon removal is no longer a distant prospect. We’re seeing rapid advances in direct air capture, enhanced weathering, ocean-based approaches, reforestation and biomass-derived methods. Clear analysis is essential as governments and communities evaluate the risks, costs and benefits of these options,” Jackson said.

The second special issue examines sustainable solutions for data centers, whose rapid AI-driven expansion has created significant pressure on electricity systems, water resources and emissions, according to Jackson. The issue will explore system modeling, cooling and power innovations, digital monitoring technologies and policy approaches for building net-zero, water-smart digital infrastructure.

“Data centers have become essential infrastructure, yet their combined energy and water demands remain poorly understood,” Jackson noted. “An integrated energy–water–carbon perspective helps clarify where solutions are effective and where further innovation is needed.” In Finland, for example, waste-heat generated by underground data centers is being repurposed for district heating. 

Together, these special issues aim to provide grounded, actionable insights as climate policy, digital infrastructure and technological innovation evolve at pace – work that will support both global decision-makers and the next generation of sustainability leaders, according to Jackson.