**Preface to "Advances in Low Carbon Technologies and Transition"**

Environmental and energy scientists are always asked to solve real-world environmental problems by suggesting concrete policies based on new findings. Many social and economic factors can significantly affect the environment. We think that technology and product are very important in solving environmental problems. In this context, the following questions are crucial: how can new technological advancements and new product developments contribute to improving energy efficiency at technology and product levels and reducing production- and consumption-based environmental emissions and what policies can be effective in promoting low-carbon technologies and products identified by the analyses? We believe that this book provides a novel contribution to these research questions. We gratefully acknowledge all authors who contributed to the Special Issue "Advances in Low Carbon Technologies and Transition" and this edited book.

> **Shigemi Kagawa, Hidemichi Fujii** *Editors*
