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Review

Mapping the Landscape of Carbon-Neutral City Research: Dynamic Evolution and Emerging Frontiers

by
Yang Miao
1,2,
Le Yang
1,
Feng Chen
1 and
Jiawei Chen
3,*
1
School of Public Administration, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
2
School of Management, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
3
School of Business, Jiangnan University, No. 1800, Lihu Avenue, Binhu District, Wuxi 214122, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2024, 16(16), 6733; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16166733
Submission received: 2 July 2024 / Revised: 31 July 2024 / Accepted: 4 August 2024 / Published: 6 August 2024
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)
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Abstract

:
Carbon-neutral city research has attracted widespread attention. However, a comprehensive review of this research has not been conducted, and it is unclear how the various perspectives have evolved. In this study, CNKI and Web of Science were used as data sources. By summarizing the research results of carbon-neutral cities in recent years, the dynamics evolution trend is revealed, and the frontiers are explored. We found that: (1) the themes and contents of carbon-neutral city research were diverse and intersecting and mainly focused on energy, industrial structure, transportation, and building. (2) The knowledge map of author cooperation did not show many aggregates, which indicated that the cooperation and exchanges between relevant researchers are insufficient. (3) Chinese research on carbon-neutral cities was extensive and fruitful, taking the lead in the research in this field. Based on the current situation and trends, we provided a scientific reference for the development of carbon-neutral cities. Current research foci and cutting-edge findings will help to make cities more climate resilient, sustainable and livable. Understanding and magnifying these foci is what will help countries achieve their climate mitigation and carbon neutrality goals sooner rather than later.

1. Introduction

Climate change, a major obstacle to sustainable development, has garnered substantial attention from the international community [1,2,3]. Countries have implemented measures to prevent climate change and established global agreements, including The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, The Kyoto Protocol, and The Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement sets a target of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C or 2 °C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the 21st century [4] and achieving carbon neutrality by 2065–2070 [5]. It is also the first time a precise timetable for global carbon neutrality has been proposed, laying the basis for the global climate governance pattern after 2020. The term “carbon peak” is defined as the point in time when the total emissions of CO2 reach a historical maximum, after which the emissions gradually decline. While, carbon neutrality refers to the total emissions of CO2 are offset by planting trees, energy-saving, and emission reduction within a certain period [6]. To advance the implementation of global carbon neutrality, countries and regions have incorporated the carbon neutrality goal into the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and submitted it to the Paris Agreement’s convention office via legislative frameworks, policy announcements, or strategic documents (Table 1). Now, over 120 countries have pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by the mid-21st century [7,8]. The global fight for “carbon neutrality” has commenced, and a new pattern of a worldwide low-carbon economy is appearing.
Cities are not only the carriers of economic growth but also sources of greenhouse gas emissions [9,10,11]. They are crucial for catalyzing low-carbon economic transformations and fostering high-quality economic and social development. At the same time, cities are subject to the influence of policymakers, large investment funds, reputable universities and think tanks, growing high-income populations, and growing public awareness of environmental protection. By continuously developing and promoting climate solutions, mobilizing investments, and supporting international cooperation, cities have the potential to drive regional and global decarbonization. To achieve carbon neutrality, cities will face daunting challenges and changes [12,13]. A carbon-neutral city means that the net greenhouse gas emissions associated with the city are zero [14]. Scholars have proposed ways to explore the carbon neutrality of cities from many fields to promote cities to achieve a zero-carbon transition as soon as possible. (1) Transportation field. The implementation of policies and measures such as rail transit construction, new energy development [15], intensive land use [16], and shared bicycles [17,18] can further promote the optimization of urban transportation structures and facilitate the realization of carbon neutrality goals. (2) Construction field. Green buildings and urban communities composed of green buildings will play an indispensable and important role in the city’s path to carbon neutrality [19]. (3) Urban carbon sink field. Attention should be paid to the carbon sink function of urban forests and vegetation [20,21], as well as the construction of marine and terrestrial carbon sinks [22]. (4) Urban management field. The construction of smart cities is related to the goal of carbon neutrality [23], and the peak design of different types of cities should implement differentiated planning based on their different types [24,25,26].
Therefore, it is essential to encourage cities to urgently adopt carbon-neutral practices and policies to reduce and offset carbon dioxide emissions from urban socio-economic activities. Some cities around the world are implementing carbon-neutral construction and research. Chengdu has achieved significant advancements in six crucial areas to drive the overall promotion of carbon neutrality [27]. Xi’an has integrated the application of green construction, smart construction, and smart operations technologies to effectively reduce energy consumption and total carbon emissions throughout the project’s life cycle [6]. Several cities, including Jinan and Yancheng [28], have initiated the construction of carbon-neutral cities. Copenhagen has selected 100% renewable energy power generation and heating as the main emissions reduction contribution [24]. Adelaide released the 2020–2024 Strategic Plan: The Most Livable City in the World in July 2020, which explicitly adopted the carbon-neutral approach of “carbon emission reduction + carbon credit” and achieving carbon neutrality by 2025 [29]. New York aims to achieve carbon neutrality in a fair and equal way before 2050. The primary approach is to reduce carbon emissions whilst simultaneously employing carbon credits or offsetting [30]. Busan is actively promoting the development of marine cities to investigate the potential for establishing a zero-carbon zone in the ocean [31].
In this context, summarizing research findings from studies on carbon-neutral cities can assist in identifying the current research frontiers and hotspots, thereby offering ideas and perspectives to guide future research and policies. Nevertheless, previous research has failed to offer a comprehensive overview of the research landscape, relying on singular perspectives rather than multiple perspectives. Additionally, they also failed to elucidate the context, impeding our ability to systematically integrate diverse perspectives on carbon-neutral cities.
Using CiteSpace knowledge map software and bibliometric analysis methods, this paper collates and summarizes the recent research results on global carbon-neutral cities. The objective is to reveal the dynamics, development process, and evolution trends of carbon-neutral city research and to identify the frontiers and hotspots of carbon-neutral development theory and practical research. It will help to make cities more climate resilient, sustainable, and livable and help countries achieve their climate mitigation and carbon neutrality goals sooner rather than later.
The remainder of this paper is organized as follows. Section 2 explains the data sources and analytical methods used in this research. Section 3 describes the literature identified by our review and its characteristics and details the research topics. Finally, we summarize our conclusions and implications for future research in Section 4. It is important to note that no comparison of the results from the many studies in this field has been conducted; instead, our goal is to illustrate the current status of this field, how it is changing, and important areas for future research.

2. Methodology

2.1. Data Sources

China, as the largest carbon emitter, has significant research outputs in carbon neutrality. It is hoped to observe the distinctive focus and development path of carbon-neutral city research in China in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamic evolution of the field. Due to the different citation formats exported by CNKI and WOS, fusion analysis in CiteSpace (5.8 R3) is not possible. Therefore, we analyzed the Chinese literature separately with reference to [32,33,34]. As the predecessor of carbon-neutral city research, low-carbon city research is also included in this study. The CNKI journal database was chosen for retrieving Chinese literature, and a precise search was carried out with “SU = (‘low carbon’ + ‘carbon-neutral’ + ‘carbon peak’) * ‘city’”. To guarantee the quality of the chosen literature, the source of the retrieved journals was set as “Peking University Core” and “CSSCI”. Consequently, a total of 2270 retrieval results were obtained (the retrieval deadline was 20 December 2021). The international literature data samples were selected from the Web of Science core database and searched with “TS = (“Carbon-neutral” OR “Carbon peak” OR “Low carbon”) AND TS = City”. (“SU” “TS” = subject, “+” = “OR”, “*” = “AND”, and “AND” “OR” are Boolean operators.) A total of 2225 papers were retrieved. In order to ensure the validity of the literature data, manual screening was performed again. This screening eliminated any non-research literature, such as duplicate literature, conference notices, speech reports, and news propaganda was removed. Finally, a total of 2185 Chinese literature samples and 2206 international literature samples on urban carbon neutrality were collected and distributed from 2002 to 2022.

2.2. Analytical Framework

Using CiteSpace (5.8 R3) software, 4391 literature samples were analyzed and visualized from the aspects of publication volume, authors, research institutions, research hot words, keywords, and highly cited literature. Summarizing the research status of carbon-neutral cities across different times and analyzing the formation and development processes of global carbon-neutral cities will aid in specifying research priorities and hotspots of carbon-neutral cities on a macro-level. This will provide a reference for ongoing research in this area. Figure 1 shows the research framework of this study.

3. Context of Research Results

3.1. Publication Volume and Inter-Annual Trends

The publication volume of articles can serve as a gauge of research interest and advancements in this field and reflect researchers’ attention to the field’s research hotspots. In this study, relevant literature from CNKI and Web of Science (WOS) was selected to study and analyze the number and change degree of published articles each year (Figure 2).
Research beyond China emerged in 2002 and rapidly grew in 2009, revealing a gradual upward trend. Chinese research has lagged two years behind international research. The earliest research, which concentrated on sewage treatment in low-carbon cities, was published in 2004 [35]. Since the Chinese Ministry of Construction and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) jointly launched the low-carbon cities in Shanghai and Baoding in early 2008, there has been a rapid increase in interest in low-carbon cities, resulting in numerous relevant studies. Since The Notice on Launching Pilot Work in Low-Carbon Provinces and Low-Carbon Cities was issued, research on low-carbon cities reached its peak in 2011 but decreased in subsequent years. Until 2020, when the carbon peak and carbon neutrality target was proposed, the research on carbon-neutral cities increased.

3.2. Discipline Statistics

A carbon-neutral city is a multidisciplinary concept. In China, the key subjects contributing to this field are macroeconomic management and sustainable development, environmental science and resource utilization, construction science and engineering, and economic system reform. The majority of the published literature concentrates on macroeconomic management and sustainable development. International literature encompasses various disciplines, such as environmental science, energy fuel, green and sustainable technology, environmental science, and environmental engineering. Most publications belong to the field of environmental science, which accounts for 37.81% of the total publications (Figure 3).

3.3. Author Analysis

There are more links between high-yielding authors, but overall, the collaborative knowledge map of authors exhibits little aggregation. Most of the lines are scattered and disordered, indicating sporadic dispersion and only a few lines form closed loops (Figure 4). This indicated that despite the considerable number of researchers in the field of carbon-neutral city research, there has been inadequate cooperation and exchange among them. As a result, there is significant potential for further joint research to expand and develop.

3.3.1. Chinese Author Analysis

From the analysis of author associations, Table 2 lists the top five authors with the highest number of publications in carbon-neutral city research. The results demonstrated that Zhuang, from the Institute of Ecological Civilization at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, has published 30 journal articles, making him the most prolific author in this field. Zhuang first published a paper in 2010. In the article Low-Carbon Economy Transformation: Policies, Trends, and Implications, he drew on the accounts of London, Tokyo, New York, and other major international cities’ coping with global climate change and developing into low-carbon cities, and he discussed various aspects of low-carbon city construction in China [36]. Ye, ranked second, primarily focuses on low-carbon urban planning. He presented strategies for low-carbon city development from several aspects, including the carbon sink assessment model [37], urban heat island effect model [38], and cost-benefit analysis [39].
In general, a stable research team has been formed to study urban carbon neutrality in China, carrying out extensive research in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration, the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration, Baoding, and other cities. Nevertheless, there are many types of cities in China, and the driving factors of development are intricate. Thus, in-depth research is still necessary to fully comprehend urban carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

3.3.2. International Author Analysis

In terms of international scholars, the most published author is Dong from the National Institute of Environmental Research in Japan. He has published 16 articles on this field, with the earliest one published in Energy Policy. Taking China’s National Iron and Steel Industrial Park as a case study, he investigated the contributions of key industry symbiotic technologies to carbon emissions reduction in industrial parks [40]. Chen focuses on urban metabolism, evaluating urban low-carbon performance from a metabolic perspective by studying the coupling of energy and carbon flows related to cities [41,42]. Geng focuses primarily on the study of carbon emissions, proposing insights for low-carbon urban development based on the spatial structural characteristics of carbon emissions [43], the perception of carbon-labeled products [44], and so on.
These influential researchers and academics have sparked the advancement of urban carbon peaking and carbon neutrality research by forming a research team and cooperating to publish research papers. They have established a strong theoretical foundation for the development of carbon-neutral cities.
The map indicates that while most scholars have cooperated to some degree, they have not yet formed a stable and scalable cooperation group. It is expected that experts will utilize technology and platforms to enhance communication and cooperation, ultimately improving the cohesion of urban carbon neutrality research teams.

3.4. Institution Analysis

Based on Table 3, the institution in China with the highest number of papers published between 2002 and 2021 was Tongji University, with 68 papers, followed by Tsinghua University with 65 papers, Peking University with 63 papers, and Tianjin University with 48 papers. The institution with the largest number of international papers is the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with 109 papers, followed by Tsinghua University, with 65 papers, and Beijing Normal University, with 53 papers. Compared with other countries, China has conducted extensive research and has achieved fruitful results, leading the way in the urban carbon neutrality field. Among them, scholars from Tsinghua University have published the most papers in global journals, with a total of 130 papers. Carbon-neutral city research is mainly driven by colleges and universities, with involvement from national research institutions.

3.5. Journals Analysis

Among the top 5 journals with the most publications in the field of carbon-neutral cities in China, China Population, Resources and Environment claimed first place with 91 papers (4.16% of all papers), followed by Urban Planning Forum and Economic Geography (Table 4). These journals predominantly focused on the fields of environmental science, geography, and economics. Journal of Cleaner Production published the most papers in this field with 164 papers, accounting for 7.43% of the total number of international papers, followed by Sustainability with 132 papers. Both journals are entrenched within the domain of environmental science and ecology.

3.6. Article Citations

Table 5 lists the top five most cited articles in China. The vast majority of the most cited articles were published in 2008 and 2009. The most cited article was published in China Industrial Economy in 2008, with 1288 citations. This article was co-authored by three authors from the School of Politics and Public Administration of Zhejiang University of Technology (now the School of Public Administration of Zhejiang University of Technology). The article with the most citations per year is An Analysis of the Concept, Goal, Content, Planning Strategies and Misunderstandings of New Urbanization, published in Urban Planning Forum in 2013. The authors are Shan et al. from the School of Architecture and Urban Planning of Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
In terms of international papers (Table 6), Chinese authors published the most among the top ten most cited papers, with three papers. The most cited article was published in the Journal of Coastal Research in 2020, with a total of 517 citations, and the number of citations per year (C/Y) also ranked first at 258.5. Wang and Li [45] explored the transition path for coastal cities’ sustainability by investigating the relationship between economic and financial performance and environmental quality in 76 coastal cities in China.

3.7. Research Hotspots and Trend Analysis

Research hotspots and trends can be identified through keyword frequency analysis. According to the analysis by CiteSpace 5.8 R3, keywords in the literature on urban carbon peaking and carbon neutrality are relatively concentrated. Figure 5 and Figure 6 visually present the keyword clustering knowledge map of 2185 Chinese publications and 2206 international publications. Meanwhile, combined with the distribution of relevant literature in Figure 2, the research situation and development context of city carbon peaking and carbon neutrality can be visually presented.

3.7.1. Research Hotspots and Trends in China

Based on the keyword frequency results (Figure 5), it could be concluded that the keywords in the research on urban carbon neutrality mainly focus on low-carbon city (#0), carbon-neutral (#1), industrial structure (#2), low-carbon economy (#3), low-carbon consumption (#4), city (#5), carbon sinks (#6), and indicator system (#7). The top five keywords are “low-carbon city” (425 times), “low-carbon economy” (300 times), “carbon emission” (163 times), “low-carbon” (140 times), and “carbon-neutral” (89 times). The core of research on carbon neutrality has not changed significantly since their initial formulation in 2004 and 2008. The majority of research clusters have demonstrated a notable degree of continuity, currently situated within the research development phase. Additionally, most studies prefer Beijing (#8) as a case study to explore the development path of the city.

Low-Carbon City

Research on low-carbon cities focused on the driving force mechanism of urbanization [46,47], the upgrading of the leisure agricultural industry [48], the development of low-carbon tourism [49], low-carbon economy, and low-carbon consumption [50]. Among them, the field of low-carbon tourism garnered attention. Researchers took cities such as Shanghai [51], Guilin [52], Huaibei [53], and new urban areas such as Ningbo Yinzhou New City [54] as low-carbon tourism research objects to explore the development path of low-carbon tourism in China [55]. Subsequently, scholars commenced a shift in focus towards intergovernmental relations and investigated the policy implementation mechanism [56] and the policy “pilot-diffusion” mechanism [57] of low-carbon pilot cities.

Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality

Carbon neutrality refers to the balance between carbon absorption and carbon emission [58,59]. Early studies on carbon neutrality in Chinese cities have focused on the top-level design of carbon neutrality plans [60] and the progress of carbon neutrality in specific areas of a single city, such as the low-carbon behaviors and attitudes of Shanghai residents [61] and urban agriculture in Baoding [62]. In recent years, scholars have increasingly investigated various levels of urbanization, including metropolitan areas [63], urban agglomerations [64,65], and other geographic locations. Notably, Chinese scholars have conducted numerous comprehensive studies concerning carbon dioxide emissions reduction strategies within the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration [66], economically prosperous regions [60], and six megacities [67].

Industrial Structure Carbon Neutrality

In the process of carbon-neutral city construction, technological innovations, and industrial structures are two crucial mechanisms that affect urban economic development [68]. Due to the strong internal correlation between both sides, it is difficult to completely separate them, which is mainly reflected in the following aspects: technological innovation will affect the direction and speed of industrial transformation and upgrading, which is conducive to the optimization and upgrading of the industrial structure [69]. Industrial transformation and upgrading will subsequently prompt the upgrade of technologies to offset environmental cost reduction sustained by carbon neutrality [70]. Currently, research within the technical field centers on multiple aspects, including carbon capture technology [71] and energy-saving and efficiency improvements [6].

Transportation Carbon Neutrality

Recent years have evidenced a rapid rise in transportation carbon emissions, prominently attributed to the increased share of private cars and inadequate progress in public transportation development [72]. By improving the fuel economy, promoting new energy vehicles, and maximizing the potential of urban public mobility, the transportation sector can achieve a low-carbon transition in a technically feasible way [73]. Thus, it is essential to place transportation development in a higher strategic position in urbanization development and regional economic layout adjustment and to build a low-carbon and efficient comprehensive transportation system [74]. With extensive research on achieving carbon neutrality in transportation, the concept of “slow traffic” has gained prominence. Slow traffic refers to modes of transportation that prioritize slower speeds, pedestrian-friendly environments, and non-motorized forms of travel such as walking and cycling. It encompasses transportation systems and infrastructure designed to promote safety, sustainability, and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists [75]. Slow traffic has become an indispensable part of the modern transportation system [76]. The advancement of slow traffic offers cities sustainable and eco-friendly commuting alternatives, and it plays a key role in creating an environmentally friendly transport network that enhances the natural landscape [77].

Research Methods

The related research on achieving urban carbon neutrality in China primarily focuses on two categories of research methods: indicator systems and scenario analysis, supplemented by other calculation models.
(1) Indicator systems. The research on low-carbon cities in China mainly centers around developing evaluation systems, including the evaluation and analysis of the low-carbon development level of Zhejiang Province from 2005 to 2012 [78] and the empirical analysis of the basic status of the low-carbon economic development level of 12 cities in Hubei Province in 2010 [79]. There is also a low-carbon city evaluation system that utilizes an amalgamation of construction, policy implementation, measure implementation, and development status to evaluate low-carbon cities [80];
(2) Scenario analysis. The scenario analysis method was utilized to simulate and evaluate the development trend of Beijing’s carbon emissions from 2007 to 2030 [81], Tianjin’s urban transportation carbon emissions [82], Xiamen’s potential for reducing industrial CO2 emissions [83], Tianjin’s environmental performance level [84], and Nanjing’s low-carbon building construction target [85] in various scenarios;
(3) Other methods. In addition to the two primary methods, indicator systems, and scenario analysis, there exist additional methods utilized within carbon-neutral city research, such as evaluating the sustainable development of tourism in Nanjing based on the ecological footprint model [86], using the spatial statistical tool LISA to explore the relationship between residents’ direct carbon emissions and urban form [87], constructing a low-carbon model of the urban spatial form to explore the low-carbon model of urban spatial growth [88].

3.7.2. Research Hotspots and Trends Internationally

The international article clustering map reveals 19 total clusters from #0 to #17 (Figure 6), and the top 10 clusters were as follows: #0 renewable energy, #1 governance, #2 urban climate governance, #3 lmdi, #4 low-carbon cognition, #5 policy, #6 waste management, #7 lifestyle, #8 transport, and #9 CO2. The top five most frequent keywords in the study were “city” (391 occurrences), “impact” (171 occurrences), “energy” (160 occurrences), “system” (156 occurrences), and “CO2 emissions” (151 occurrences). The extent and scope of research in all fields have grown over time while new research hotspots continue to emerge. International studies on carbon-neutral cities were conducted earlier than Chinese studies, focusing on urban governance, carbon emissions, and measurement methodologies.

Urban Governance

Urban governance encompasses a multifaceted network of institutions, networks, and socio-technical artifacts. The types of urban governance processes can be divided into vertical processes, horizontal processes, and infrastructure processes. Vertical processes are viewed through the lens of multi-level governance perspectives, horizontal processes through network and policy mobility perspectives, and infrastructure processes emphasize the urban form and built environment [89].
The vertical perspective emphasizes how cities are positioned within broader political structures and how they maneuver in relation to national states and international institutions [90]. Research indicates that creating a multi-layered governance system is necessary for cities to transition toward sustainable energy [91]. By implementing a coordinated cross-sectoral framework at multiple levels, low-carbon cities can significantly enhance their capacity for action and development opportunities [92].
The horizontal perspective is primarily concerned with how cities operate in networks and draws on “mobile” policy knowledge and policy ideas [93]. In terms of low-carbon energy transitions, this perspective sheds light on the emergence and dissemination of green solutions among cities, identifying the promoters and adopters and exploring their transformation to fit the local context of adopting cities [89]. McCann [94] examined how Vancouver functions as a venue for learning about popular ideas for environmentally and socially sustainable urban development. Wood [95] examined the circulation politics that led to the widespread acceptance of bus rapid transit in South Africa.
The proposed infrastructure perspective demonstrates a direct correlation between urban form and greenhouse gas emissions. Extensive cities and suburban areas exhibit significantly higher per capita emissions compared to compact cities and city centers [96]. The transitions towards low-carbon urban areas are driven by urban infrastructure and socio-technical regimes rather than trans-urban networks and policy circulation. In turn, it is the seemingly small and mundane decisions made by city governments and planning departments that ultimately shape the conditions for urban low-carbon transitions [93]. Therefore, the role of cities in prompting low-carbon transitions lies in reconsidering the large and small decisions through which the urban infrastructures and the built environment are created [97].

Carbon Emissions

Since the main goal of carbon-neutral city construction is to reduce urban carbon emissions, the study of carbon emissions is one of the research hotspots in the field of carbon-neutral cities. Scholars have studied the impact on the urban environment, economy, and society by measuring the carbon emissions of urban agriculture [98,99], construction [100,101], transportation [102,103], and other industries. The city samples comprised of Korean cities [104], Tokyo Metropolitan Area [105], Okayama City [106], Carbon-Neutral Cities Alliance member cities [107], Masdar City [12], Taichung [108], Melbourne [109], New York, Vancouver, London, and Stockholm [110]. Scholars have recently focused on studying urban forest carbon sinks due to increasing concerns about carbon emissions in cities [111,112].

Research Method

(1) Scenario analysis. Consistent with the research in China, international studies utilize scenario analysis as the primary calculation method. Chen and Chen [113] simulated the emissions paths and reduction contributions of the building sector in multiple cities, and they predicted that the peak emissions of the building sector would be reached by many cities before 2030. Yang et al. [114] created four scenarios to simulate the dynamic CO2 emissions of six energy-related sectors in Ningbo. Gil-García et al. [115] identified and analyzed CO2 emissions assessments in Maine by combining renewable energy integration targets, emissions reduction targets, and realistic renewable resource potentials under four scenarios. Yuan et al. [116] conducted a comprehensive techno-economic analysis of the optimal district heating (DH) strategy in a 100% renewable energy system using five different scenarios in Aalborg as a case study;
(2) Life cycle assessment (LCA). LCA can be a valuable means of quantifying environmental impacts, particularly with respect to climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Quantifying and assessing the potential environmental impact of products, processes, and services throughout their life cycles is deemed a reliable method, with widespread use in the construction industry [117,118,119], vehicle technology and fuels [120], solid waste [121], lifestyle [122], and other fields;
(3) Other methods. In addition to the two primary measurement methods, various methods have been used in the study of carbon-neutral cities. Xu et al. [123] utilized spatial agglomeration functions, grey relational models, Kuznets curve models, and other methods to analyze the impact of urbanization on carbon emissions in the Pearl River Delta region from 1990 to 2014. Yeo et al. [124] used the Energy Integrated Planning Support System (PSS) to predict the energy demands of various urban planning in Korea. Menezes et al. [125] evaluated the potential, benefits, and risks of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in São Paulo through the ForFITS model. Additionally, Hukkalainen et al. [126] developed the Kurke tool to assess energy demand and CO2 emissions of two distinct urban planning options in the Helsinki metropolitan area, Finland.

3.7.3. Summary

According to the cluster analysis of the co-occurrence network of keywords in Figure 5 and Figure 6, various clustering research contents overlap each other. The similar keywords indicate diverse and intersecting research themes and contents. In China, research focuses on low-carbon cities, carbon neutrality, industrial structures, low-carbon economy, and transportation. Key areas include the development of low-carbon tourism, policy implementation mechanisms, technological innovations, and scenario analysis methods. Internationally, research emphasizes urban governance, carbon emissions, and measurement methodologies, with significant attention to urban infrastructure, life cycle assessment, and scenario analysis. Both Chinese and international studies highlight the importance of multi-level governance, urban form, and socio-technical regimes in achieving carbon neutrality. Overall, research have multi-level contents, with an evolving theory and a tendency towards multi-type synthesis methods, and the perspective gradually shifts from the micro-level to the macro-level.

4. Conclusions and Implications

Throughout this study, numerous publications pertaining to carbon-neutral cities were analyzed from the field’s inception until the present day. To comprehensively review academic achievements and progress within the field, we utilized the CiteSpace 5.8 R3 software for quantitative and visual analysis. This approach addresses a significant issue in prior reviews, which rarely provided a holistic analysis from multiple standpoints and did not entirely reveal the evolution over time. The current research presents a thorough examination of the complete evolution of urban renewal studies, facilitating precise and scientific forecasts of the transition from a low-carbon city to a carbon-neutral city. Thus, this study offers practical guidance to policymakers and valuable insights into the future of this field.

4.1. Conclusions

Based on 4391 papers in the field of research on carbon-neutral cities retrieved from CNKI and Web of Science, this study employed the CiteSpace 5.8 R3 software to systematically examine the trends in carbon-neutral cities from 2002 to 2022. The results evaluated the research status, identified research hotspots, outlined future research directions for global scholars on urban carbon neutrality, and clarified future research directions. The study’s findings are as follows:
(1)
International research emerged in 2002 and grew rapidly in 2009 with a gradual upward trend. Chinese research lagged behind international-related research by two years, reaching its peak in 2011, and exhibited a downward trend in subsequent years. Carbon-neutral city research rebounded in 2020;
(2)
The research on carbon-neutral cities is a multidisciplinary field. In China, predominant topics include macroeconomic management and sustainable development, environmental science and resource utilization, construction science and engineering, and economic system reform. China Population, Resources and Environment, which relates to the field of environmental science, has the highest number of published papers. Countries other than China have primarily concentrated on disciplines like environmental science, energy and fuel, green and sustainable technology, environmental science, and environmental engineering. Journal of Cleaner Production, which published the most papers, belongs to the discipline of environmental science and ecology. Thus, multidisciplinary research will become increasingly crucial in coping with the complexities of a carbon-neutral city;
(3)
There are numerous connections among prolific authors in the field of carbon-neutral city research. But overall, the knowledge map of author cooperation does not form many aggregates. This indicates that although the number of researchers in this field is large, there is inadequate collaboration and information exchanges among relevant scholars, leaving plenty of room for joint research growth;
(4)
Compared with other countries, China’s research on carbon-neutral cities is extensive and fruitful, putting it at the forefront of this field. The primary force behind this endeavor is the colleges and universities, with involvement from national research institutes;
(5)
The themes and contents of research on carbon-neutral cities are diverse and intersecting. Chinese research mainly focuses on low-carbon cities, carbon neutrality, research methods, and other related fields. Conversely, carbon-neutral city research in other countries concentrates on urban governance, carbon emissions, measurement methods, and other fields. This trend encourages researchers to conduct additional analyses of multi-system coupling and mechanisms in the future;
(6)
Generally, research on carbon-neutral cities primarily centers on energy carbon neutrality, industrial structure carbon neutrality, transportation carbon neutrality, building carbon neutrality, carbon sinks, and carbon trading.

4.2. Implications

To gain a comprehensive understanding of and an effective response to the issue of carbon-neutral cities, the front end, middle end, and back end have been selected. These three aspects were chosen for their thorough coverage of the full life cycle and the interdependencies and synergies that exist among them. The front end provides the essential foundation and support for the subsequent implementation at the middle end. The middle end alleviates the burden on the back end for carbon sequestration by implementing energy-saving and emission-reduction measures. The carbon absorption and trading mechanisms of the back end offer a means of compensating for the carbon emissions that the front end and middle end have been unable to eliminate entirely, thereby forming a completely closed loop.

4.2.1. Front End: Energy Alternatives

(1) Promotion of the reduction and elimination of traditional fossil energy should have a well-planned approach. The approach of reducing coal, controlling oil, and increasing gas should be selected as the general strategy for adjusting the fossil energy structure. The development of a roadmap for the scaling back of coal consumption must be expedited, and strict adherence to environmental impact assessment requirements, energy consumption, and controlling total coal consumption must be ensured. The acceleration of CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage) transformation in existing power plants is crucial. Increasing the portion of natural gas in fossil fuel usage is necessary to balance the energy supply and achieve net-zero emission targets;
(2) Vigorous development of new and renewable energy, such as photovoltaic, wind, and hydropower, should be prioritized in suburban areas based on local conditions. Active efforts to develop the nascent technology of nuclear fusion and hydrogen energy and encourage nuclear energy as a viable alternative energy source should also be comprehensively examined;
(3) The promotion of multi-energy complementary utilization and optimization integration should be executed in an orderly manner. To adequately address the issue of the contradiction between energy supply and demand, cities with different resource conditions should be motivated to implement diverse complementary energy sources. Policies must adhere to the development of a clean, diverse, and intelligent energy system. In terms of technology, the “storage and transfer” capabilities of the energy system must be improved, and distributed energy must be actively developed, along with the implementation of digital and intelligent energy technologies to enhance the overall efficiency of the system.

4.2.2. Middle End: Energy Saving and Emissions Reduction

(1) Revitalizing the industrial structure requires a two-pronged strategy. On the one hand, fast-track the growth of the urban green economy by concentrating on the restructuring of polluting traditional manufacturing industries and chemical enterprises, and methodical progression towards an eco-friendly urban economy and green industry development. On the other hand, the national plan for the layout of new high-tech and green industries must be closely followed. Promotion of the transformation of old and new kinetic energy should occur through new development paths, like urban agglomeration industrial clusters and industrial chain coordination, while concurrently promoting the rapid rise of knowledge-intensive and technology-intensive industries;
(2) Research and development of low-carbon technologies requires increased support for high-performing research teams and institutions. It is necessary to build scientific and technological information resource platforms to promote the application of green emissions reduction technologies. On the one hand, high-tech industries should be developed based on the construction of industrial parks, and productive enterprises should also be upgraded and transformed by formulating a development route that includes decarbonization, zero-carbon emissions, and negative emissions technologies. On the other hand, it is important to enhance multi-level and cross-border scientific research cooperation to encourage joint efforts of enterprises to tackle key low-carbon technologies. It also involves improving the allocation capability of regional collaborative innovation.

4.2.3. Back End: Carbon Absorption and Carbon Trading

(1) Enhancing the capacity of urban ecological carbon sinks and optimizing the layout of urban ecological spaces requires a three-pronged approach. Firstly, the area of the urban ecological space should be continually expanded. Secondly, we need to attain compact urban development, while also rationally planning and constructing urban ecological corridors. Thirdly, the protection of the ecological environment and biodiversity should be highlighted, while the vegetation coverage of the soil should be improved to realize the functional complex of carbon capture, carbon sink economy, and ecological and environmental protection;
(2) Gradual expansion of the industry coverage in the carbon trading market will effectively increase market activity, trading scale, and emissions reduction potential. At the same time, the implementation of a pilot paid quota allocation system should be prioritized. Gradual increases in the proportion of paid allocation can be facilitated through auctions and other means while encouraging the involvement of enterprises within the renewable energy industry in the carbon trading system;
(3) Promoting the gradual implementation of institutional reforms related to the carbon tax and carbon trading market. To design policy, it is crucial to establish a fundamental framework for carbon pricing that integrates both carbon trading and carbon tax. The carbon trading system will primarily oversee regulating key enterprises with high concentrations of emissions. The carbon tax system mainly applies to small and medium-sized enterprises that do not meet the carbon trading market’s threshold.

4.3. Limitation

While this research has analyzed a vast literature spanning the past two decades, it is possible that our results have overlooked potential publications beyond peer-reviewed journals and conference publications, particularly in the gray literature of the field. In future work, this scientometric review could extend its focus to include sub-themes on carbon-neutral city research, taking into consideration a broad range of existing literature or the most recently published material.

Author Contributions

Y.M.: Writing-Original draft preparation, Methodology; L.Y.: Writing—Original draft preparation, Visualization; F.C.: Visualization, Software; J.C.: Writing—Reviewing and Editing, Conceptualization. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was financially supported by the National Social Science Foundation of China [Grant No. 22AZD127], an MOE (Ministry of Education in China) Youth Foundation Project of Humanities and Social Sciences [Grant No. 21YJC630100], Hangzhou Social Sciences Planning Program [Grant No. Z24JC039].

Data Availability Statement

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available in the [Web of Science] repository, [http://www.webofscience.com/] (accessed on 20 December 2021) and [CNKI] repository, [https://www.cnki.net/] (accessed on 20 December 2021).

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Figure 1. Analytical framework.
Figure 1. Analytical framework.
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Figure 2. Publication volume in each year.
Figure 2. Publication volume in each year.
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Figure 3. Distribution of literature subjects in CNKI and WOS. Note: A paper may belong to two or more disciplines, so the sum of all percentages may exceed 100%.
Figure 3. Distribution of literature subjects in CNKI and WOS. Note: A paper may belong to two or more disciplines, so the sum of all percentages may exceed 100%.
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Figure 4. Map of authors’ cooperation in CNKI (left) and WOS (right).
Figure 4. Map of authors’ cooperation in CNKI (left) and WOS (right).
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Figure 5. Keyword timeline view of Chinese-related research.
Figure 5. Keyword timeline view of Chinese-related research.
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Figure 6. Keyword clustering knowledge map of international-related research.
Figure 6. Keyword clustering knowledge map of international-related research.
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Table 1. Timeline of carbon peak and carbon neutrality targets for major countries.
Table 1. Timeline of carbon peak and carbon neutrality targets for major countries.
CountryCarbon Peak YearCarbon Neutral YearCountryCarbon Peak YearCarbon Neutral Year
U.S.20072050France19912050
Canada20072050Germany19902050
China20302060Denmark19962050
Japan20132050Sweden19932045
South Korea20202050Austria20032040
U.K.19912050Spain20072050
Table 2. Information on the main authors of the carbon-neutral city study.
Table 2. Information on the main authors of the carbon-neutral city study.
No.Chinese LiteratureInternational Literature
AuthorPublication VolumeYear of First PublicationAuthorPublication VolumeYear of First Publication
1Zhuang G Y302010Liang Dong162013
2Ye Z D142009Bin Chen152011
3Cai B F112012Yong Geng142016
4Lu X C112013Martin De Jong132013
5Chen Y R92013Bofeng Cai132017
Table 3. Institutions with the most publications in the field of carbon-neutral city research.
Table 3. Institutions with the most publications in the field of carbon-neutral city research.
No.InstitutionTypePaper Volume
China1Tongji UniversityUniversity68
2Tsinghua UniversityUniversity65
3Beijing UniversityUniversity63
4Tianjin UniversityUniversity48
5Institute of Urban Development and Environment, Chinese Academy of Social SciencesResearch institution47
World1Chinese Academy of SciencesResearch institution109
2Tsinghua UniversityUniversity65
3Beijing Normal UniversityUniversity53
4Chinese Academy of Sciences UniversityUniversity38
5National Institute of Environmental Research of JapanResearch institutions36
Table 4. Most published journals in the field of carbon-neutral city research.
Table 4. Most published journals in the field of carbon-neutral city research.
JournalNumber Percentage Subject Category
ChinaChina Population, Resources and Environment914.16%Environmental Science and Resource Utilization
Urban Planning Forum502.29%Building Science and Engineering
Economic Geography170.78%Macroeconomic Management and Sustainable Development
Acta Ecologica Sinica110.50%Biology
Progress in Geography100.46%Physical Geography and Surveying; Geography
WorldJournal of Cleaner Production1647.43%Environmental Science and Ecology
Sustainability1325.98%Environmental Science and Ecology
Energy Procedia853.85%Energy Science, Technology and Engineering
Energy Policy602.72%Energy, Fuel
Advanced Materials Research592.67%Material Science
Table 5. Most cited papers in China.
Table 5. Most cited papers in China.
No.AuthorYearTopicJournalCitationsC/Y
1Bao J. Q. et al.2008Low-carbon economyChina Industrial Economy128892
2Shan Z. R. et al.2013Planning strategyUrban Planning Forum1254139.33
3Xin Z. P. et al.2008Low-carbon economyUrban Development Studies67147.93
4Fu Y. et al.2008Development pathThe Impact of Science on Society (now Science and Society)66447.43
5Wu D. J. et al.2016Concept connotationChina Soft Science636106
Note: C/Y denotes the number of citations per year.
Table 6. Most cited papers internationally.
Table 6. Most cited papers internationally.
No.AuthorYearTopicJournal/ConferenceCitationsC/YCountry
1Wang D. W. et al.2020Transition pathJournal of Coastal Research517258.5China
2De Jong M. et al.2015Bibliometric analysisJournal of Cleaner Production38154.43Netherlands
3While A. et al.2010Carbon controlTransactions of The Institute of British Geographers23919.92U.K.
4Feng Y. Y. et al.2013CO2 emissionsEcological Modelling23526.11China
5Wang Z. et al.2012CO2 emissionsApplied Energy23423.4China
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Miao, Y.; Yang, L.; Chen, F.; Chen, J. Mapping the Landscape of Carbon-Neutral City Research: Dynamic Evolution and Emerging Frontiers. Sustainability 2024, 16, 6733. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16166733

AMA Style

Miao Y, Yang L, Chen F, Chen J. Mapping the Landscape of Carbon-Neutral City Research: Dynamic Evolution and Emerging Frontiers. Sustainability. 2024; 16(16):6733. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16166733

Chicago/Turabian Style

Miao, Yang, Le Yang, Feng Chen, and Jiawei Chen. 2024. "Mapping the Landscape of Carbon-Neutral City Research: Dynamic Evolution and Emerging Frontiers" Sustainability 16, no. 16: 6733. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16166733

APA Style

Miao, Y., Yang, L., Chen, F., & Chen, J. (2024). Mapping the Landscape of Carbon-Neutral City Research: Dynamic Evolution and Emerging Frontiers. Sustainability, 16(16), 6733. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16166733

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