MICROBIAL SOLUTIONS FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE: INTEGRATED STRATEGIES IN WASTEWATER TREATMENT, BIOREMEDIATION, AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION

Abstract

As global ecosystems face unprecedented pressure from industrial pollution and atmospheric  CO₂  accumulation, microbial biotechnology has emerged as a critical tool for enhancing climate resilience. In 2026, the strategic deployment of microorganisms has transitioned from isolated laboratory experiments to integrated field applications, simultaneously addressing water scarcity, environmental detoxification, and carbon capture. This review synthesizes current advancements in microbial waste water treatment, the degradation of emerging pollutants like PFAS and microplastics, and innovative carbon sequestration pathways such as microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP). We evaluate the role of "omics" technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) in optimizing these biological systems for large-scale environmental restoration. The findings establish that microbial consortia can achieve up to 95% pollutant removal efficacy while contributing significantly to net-zero climate goals through biological carbon fixation.