IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v17y2024i23p6129-d1537281.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Pathways to Carbon Neutrality: A Review of Strategies and Technologies Across Sectors

Author

Listed:
  • Israa Al Khaffaf

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah 26666, United Arab Emirates)

  • Adil Tamimi

    (Department of Civil Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah 26666, United Arab Emirates)

  • Vian Ahmed

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah 26666, United Arab Emirates)

Abstract

Climate change, driven by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, poses a critical threat to the planet, prompting countries worldwide to pledge carbon neutrality by the mid-century. This literature review identifies and analyzes strategies and technologies for achieving carbon neutrality across various sectors and regions. The study aims to determine the research focus across sectors, highlighting the well-studied sectors while identifying critical gaps in other sectors, offering policymakers and researchers a clearer understanding of which sectors need more attention and investment to achieve carbon neutrality goals. Through employing a systematic literature review approach, PRISMA 2020, 113 articles published between 2019 and 2023 were analyzed using content and bibliometric analysis. The results of the content analysis show that the energy sector is the most extensively studied, with a focus on the integration of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, and carbon capture technologies. Furthermore, results showed promising developments in energy-efficient electrification methods, and circular economy principles can be seen in the building, transportation, and industrial sectors. On the other hand, while having a large potential for sequestering carbon, the agriculture and forestry sectors are still understudied. As for the bibliometric analysis, this study reveals the complex interplay between technological innovation, sectoral strategies, and policy intervention in achieving carbon neutrality. It highlights the need for integrated, interdisciplinary approaches that consider interactions between technological, economic, social, and environmental factors. The analysis also emphasizes the importance of lifecycle assessment, economic complexity, and investments in shaping effective carbon neutrality strategies. As such, future research should address the identified gaps, particularly in agriculture and forestry, and develop more comprehensive models for the transition to carbon neutrality that incorporate both technological solutions and broader socio-economic considerations.

Suggested Citation

  • Israa Al Khaffaf & Adil Tamimi & Vian Ahmed, 2024. "Pathways to Carbon Neutrality: A Review of Strategies and Technologies Across Sectors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-38, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:23:p:6129-:d:1537281
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/23/6129/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/23/6129/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhang, Chunxiao & Shen, Chao & Zhang, Yingbo & Pu, Jihong, 2022. "Feasibility investigation of spectral splitting photovoltaic /thermal systems for domestic space heating," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 231-242.
    2. Stephanie Roe & Charlotte Streck & Michael Obersteiner & Stefan Frank & Bronson Griscom & Laurent Drouet & Oliver Fricko & Mykola Gusti & Nancy Harris & Tomoko Hasegawa & Zeke Hausfather & Petr Havlík, 2019. "Contribution of the land sector to a 1.5 °C world," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 9(11), pages 817-828, November.
    3. Chris Bataille & Henri Waisman & Michel Colombier & Laura Segafredo & Jim Williams & Frank Jotzo, 2016. "The need for national deep decarbonization pathways for effective climate policy," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(sup1), pages 7-26, June.
    4. Aryanpur, Vahid & Balyk, Olexandr & Daly, Hannah & Ó Gallachóir, Brian & Glynn, James, 2022. "Decarbonisation of passenger light-duty vehicles using spatially resolved TIMES-Ireland Model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    5. Maldynova Aizhana & Davletova Maira & Ilyas Assel & Butin Erkebulan, 2022. "Improving Marketing Approaches to the Energy Sector of Kazakhstan for Decarbonization," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 12(3), pages 410-417, May.
    6. Philippe Mongeon & Adèle Paul-Hus, 2016. "The journal coverage of Web of Science and Scopus: a comparative analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 106(1), pages 213-228, January.
    7. Tan, Kang Miao & Yong, Jia Ying & Ramachandaramurthy, Vigna K. & Mansor, Muhamad & Teh, Jiashen & Guerrero, Josep M., 2023. "Factors influencing global transportation electrification: Comparative analysis of electric and internal combustion engine vehicles," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    8. Li, Xiang & Lepour, Dorsan & Heymann, Fabian & Maréchal, François, 2023. "Electrification and digitalization effects on sectoral energy demand and consumption: A prospective study towards 2050," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    9. Xiao, Lin & Guan, Yuru & Guo, Yaqin & Xue, Rui & Li, Jiashuo & Shan, Yuli, 2022. "Emission accounting and drivers in 2004 EU accession countries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    10. Pan, Xunzhang & Ma, Xueqing & Zhang, Yanru & Shao, Tianming & Peng, Tianduo & Li, Xiang & Wang, Lining & Chen, Wenying, 2023. "Implications of carbon neutrality for power sector investments and stranded coal assets in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    11. Yuan Yuan & Fengting Qian & Jiaqi Lu & Dungang Gu & Yuhang Lou & Na Xue & Guanghui Li & Wenjie Liao & Nan Zhang, 2022. "Design Optimization and Carbon Footprint Analysis of an Electrodeionization System with Flexible Load Regulation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-13, November.
    12. Ozawa, A. & Tsani, T. & Kudoh, Y., 2022. "Japan's pathways to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 – Scenario analysis using an energy modeling methodology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    13. Zhang, Hongji & Ding, Tao & Sun, Yuge & Huang, Yuhan & He, Yuankang & Huang, Can & Li, Fangxing & Xue, Chen & Sun, Xiaoqiang, 2023. "How does load-side re-electrification help carbon neutrality in energy systems: Cost competitiveness analysis and life-cycle deduction," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    14. Ying Fan & Zhuang Liang & Xing Yao, 2022. "Regional power system transitions towards carbon neutrality: The case of North China," Economic and Political Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(4), pages 416-441, October.
    15. Yang, Bo & Wei, Yi-Ming & Liu, Lan-Cui & Hou, Yun-Bing & Zhang, Kun & Yang, Lai & Feng, Ye, 2021. "Life cycle cost assessment of biomass co-firing power plants with CO2 capture and storage considering multiple incentives," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    16. Matamala, Yolanda & Flores, Francisco & Arriet, Andrea & Khan, Zarrar & Feijoo, Felipe, 2023. "Probabilistic feasibility assessment of sequestration reliance for climate targets," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    17. Waranya Thepsaskul & Wongkot Wongsapai & Jirakom Sirisrisakulchai & Tassawan Jaitiang & Sopit Daroon & Varoon Raksakulkan & Phitsinee Muangjai & Chaichan Ritkrerkkrai & Pana Suttakul & Gengwit Wattaka, 2023. "Potential Business Models of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) for the Oil Refining Industry in Thailand," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-16, October.
    18. Kevin W. Boyack & Richard Klavans, 2010. "Co‐citation analysis, bibliographic coupling, and direct citation: Which citation approach represents the research front most accurately?," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 61(12), pages 2389-2404, December.
    19. Lombardi, Francesco & Pickering, Bryn & Pfenninger, Stefan, 2023. "What is redundant and what is not? Computational trade-offs in modelling to generate alternatives for energy infrastructure deployment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 339(C).
    20. Licandeo, Francisca & Flores, Francisco & Feijoo, Felipe, 2023. "Assessing the impacts of economy-wide emissions policies in the water, energy, and land systems considering water scarcity scenarios," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 342(C).
    21. Zhang, Shufan & Ma, Minda & Li, Kai & Ma, Zhili & Feng, Wei & Cai, Weiguang, 2022. "Historical carbon abatement in the commercial building operation: China versus the US," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    22. Joeri Rogelj & Alexander Popp & Katherine V. Calvin & Gunnar Luderer & Johannes Emmerling & David Gernaat & Shinichiro Fujimori & Jessica Strefler & Tomoko Hasegawa & Giacomo Marangoni & Volker Krey &, 2018. "Scenarios towards limiting global mean temperature increase below 1.5 °C," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(4), pages 325-332, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Charikleia Karakosta & Jason Papathanasiou, 2025. "Decarbonizing the Construction Sector: Strategies and Pathways for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Beatriz Silva & David Malheiro & Dinis Júnior & Francisca Nunes & Joana Santos & Liliana Guimarães & Maria Socorro & Mariana Carvalho & Mariana Silva & Rui M. Lima & Rui M. Sousa, 2025. "Analysis of the Carbon Footprint of a Textile Company for the Automotive Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-21, May.
    3. Peng Li & Li Wang & Peiqiang Zhang & Peng Yan & Chongyang Li & Zhe Nan & Jun Wang, 2025. "Strategic Demand Response for Economic Dispatch in Wind-Integrated Multi-Area Energy Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-19, April.
    4. A. Akofa Amegboleza & M. Ali Ülkü, 2025. "Sustainable Energy Transition for the Mining Industry: A Bibliometric Analysis of Trends and Emerging Research Pathways," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-21, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Feijoo, Felipe & Flores, Francisco & Kundu, Abhishake & Pfeifer, Antun & Herc, Luka & Prieto, Ana L. & Duic, Neven, 2025. "Tradeoffs between economy wide future net zero and net negative economy systems: The case of Chile," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    2. Serhat Burmaoglu & Ozcan Saritas, 2019. "An evolutionary analysis of the innovation policy domain: Is there a paradigm shift?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 118(3), pages 823-847, March.
    3. Yang, Lin & Hou, Huiyun & Lv, Haodong & Wu, Guanqi & Xu, Bang & Li, Yiming, 2025. "Exploring the development path of bioenergy carbon capture and storage for achieving carbon neutrality in China: A systematic review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    4. Flores, Francisco & Feijoo, Felipe & DeStephano, Paelina & Herc, Luka & Pfeifer, Antun & Duić, Neven, 2024. "Assessment of the impacts of renewable energy variability in long-term decarbonization strategies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 368(C).
    5. Pattarin Sanguankaew & Vichita Vathanophas Ractham, 2019. "Bibliometric Review of Research on Knowledge Management and Sustainability, 1994–2018," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-20, August.
    6. Astrid Kainzbauer & Parisa Rungruang & Philip Hallinger, 2021. "How Does Research on Sustainable Human Resource Management Contribute to Corporate Sustainability: A Document Co-Citation Analysis, 1982–2021," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-21, October.
    7. Oluwatoyin J. Gbadeyan & Joseph Muthivhi & Linda Z. Linganiso & Nirmala Deenadayalu, 2024. "Decoupling Economic Growth from Carbon Emissions: A Transition toward Low-Carbon Energy Systems—A Critical Review," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-38, August.
    8. Mingchun Cao & Ilan Alon, 2020. "Intellectual Structure of the Belt and Road Initiative Research: A Scientometric Analysis and Suggestions for a Future Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-40, August.
    9. Suparak Suriyankietkaew & Phallapa Petison, 2019. "A Retrospective and Foresight: Bibliometric Review of International Research on Strategic Management for Sustainability, 1991–2019," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-27, December.
    10. Li, Zezheng & Zhu, Nenggao & Wen, Xin & Liu, Yu, 2025. "Assessment the impact of power generation hours on the abatement costs of CCUS on coal-fired power plants in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    11. Claudia Patricia Maldonado-Erazo & José Álvarez-García & María de la Cruz del Río-Rama & Amador Durán-Sánchez, 2021. "Scientific Mapping on the Impact of Climate Change on Cultural and Natural Heritage: A Systematic Scientometric Analysis," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-19, January.
    12. Myriam Ertz & Sébastien Leblanc-Proulx, 2019. "Review of a proposed methodology for bibliometric and visualization analyses for organizations: application to the collaboration economy," Journal of Marketing Analytics, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(2), pages 84-93, June.
    13. Abdelkebir Sahid & Yassine Maleh & Karim Ouazzane, 2025. "Changing landscape of fake news research on social media: a bibliometric analysis," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 59(2), pages 901-954, April.
    14. Yadong Wang & Khaldoon Albitar & Imad Chbib, 2024. "Connecting the dots: A systematic review of corporate social responsibility, information asymmetry, and economic implications," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 5012-5031, September.
    15. Shome, Samik & Hassan, M. Kabir & Verma, Sushma & Panigrahi, Tushar Ranjan, 2023. "Impact investment for sustainable development: A bibliometric analysis," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 770-800.
    16. Lin, Boqiang & Liu, Zhiwei, 2024. "Optimal coal power phase-out pathway considering high renewable energy proportion: A provincial example," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    17. Elie, Luc & Granier, Caroline & Rigot, Sandra, 2021. "The different types of renewable energy finance: A Bibliometric analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    18. Suthep Nimsai & Chanin Yoopetch & Polin Lai, 2020. "Mapping the Knowledge Base of Sustainable Supply Chain Management: A Bibliometric Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-21, September.
    19. Mariani, Marcello & Borghi, Matteo, 2019. "Industry 4.0: A bibliometric review of its managerial intellectual structure and potential evolution in the service industries," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    20. Chenglong Zheng & Roy Kouwenberg, 2019. "A Bibliometric Review of Global Research on Corporate Governance and Board Attributes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-25, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:23:p:6129-:d:1537281. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.