Energy Transition and Carbon Emissions

Dear Colleagues,

Developing secure, affordable, and low-carbon energy systems has become a central objective for governments, firms, and communities worldwide. In this context, energy transition is no longer confined to technology substitution; it increasingly depends on coordinated changes in industrial structure, corporate strategy, finance and investment, market design, regulation, and public governance. At the same time, carbon emissions are shaped by complex interactions across energy systems, production networks, urban development, and consumption patterns, making robust measurement, credible identification, and policy-relevant evidence essential for guiding the low-carbon transition.

Despite rapid progress, major challenges remain in advancing effective decarbonization and energy transition pathways. These include the consistency and transparency of carbon accounting and MRV systems, the design and effectiveness of climate and energy policies, cross-sectoral and -regional spillovers of energy transition measures, heterogeneous firm and industry responses to decarbonization pressures, and potential rebound effects that may offset emissions reductions. A further challenge lies in aligning ambitious climate targets with energy security, economic growth, industrial competitiveness, and social acceptance, particularly in the face of uncertain conditions and transition risks.

This Special Issue aims to advance policy- and management-relevant knowledge on low-carbon development and energy transition by collating rigorous empirical studies, theory-informed analyses, systematic reviews, and high-quality case studies. We particularly encourage interdisciplinary contributions that connect energy economics, energy policy, and sustainability science, with a clear focus on mechanisms, impacts, and governance of decarbonization and energy transition. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Carbon accounting, MRV, and emissions measurement for energy transition;
• Evaluation of climate and energy policies;
• Corporate and industrial decarbonization strategies in energy systems and energy-intensive sectors;
• Low-carbon innovation, technology diffusion, and productivity in the context of energy transition;
• Green finance and investment supporting energy transition;
• Structural change and industrial transformation toward low-carbon and sustainable energy systems;
• Cities, infrastructure, and the built environment in decarbonization and energy efficiency improvement;
• Demand-side transition, behavior change, and energy equity;
• Energy security, system resilience, and transition risks;
• Cross-border dimensions of energy transition and climate coordination.

Prof. Dr. Yu Hao
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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