Biotechnological innovations for greenhouse gas mitigation and sustainable development: A comprehensive review

The growing threat of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions necessitates the development of innovative bioprocesses for sustainable development. This review highlights state-of-the-art biotechnological strategies that mitigate emissions while improving system sustainability. Key innovations include genetically modified microorganisms for carbon capture and conversion into bio-based products, microbial fuel cells and biogas technologies that transform organic waste into clean energy, and phytoremediation systems that sequester carbon while addressing soil and air pollution. Integrating these approaches into waste management frameworks reduces overall carbon footprints and supports a circular economy through the production of bioplastics and other renewable materials. PRISMA standards were used to perform a systematic review of 217 peer-reviewed papers that were retrieved only from Scopus and were complemented by technical reports and case studies. In comparison to traditional techniques, the synthesis shows that sophisticated anaerobic co-digestion systems and genetically modified microbial platforms have the most potential, attaining carbon capture efficiencies of over 40% and methane production gains of up to 35%. Although obstacles like cost-effectiveness, scalability, and regulatory approval still exist, life cycle studies provide more evidence of these technologies' positive environmental effects. A streamlined framework that categorises recent developments, assesses their performance indicators, and identifies important research needs is the primary result of this assessment. The results offer useful information for practitioners incorporating low-carbon technologies into waste management, governments creating investment and regulatory plans that support them, and researchers working to optimise microbial and plant-based systems. Through the integration of sustainability evaluations and technical advancements, this research provides actionable strategies for resource-efficient and carbon-neutral development.