China’s decarbonization requires achievable deep underground research facilities

This letter introduces the founding of a new Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory-DUSEL in China, the distinguishing feature of which is focusing on the key scientific issue on the law of fluid matter migration within the Earth’s Critical Zone in geoscience. Various technical, economic, and social challenges were elucidated. The achievements of this facility and thereby ambitious research may provide essential solutions to both energy transition and climate security, and then bolster support for decarbonization of China’s energy sector, finally helping attain its double carbon’ goal. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text]