A Critical Review of the Definition and Estimation of Carbon Efficiency

Minyoung Yang and Jinsoo Kim ()
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Minyoung Yang: Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Korea
Jinsoo Kim: Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Korea

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 16, 1-18

Abstract: The concept of carbon efficiency is closely related to energy efficiency but embraces a broader range of carbon emission sources. Many studies have covered carbon efficiency, investigating the climate crisis, economic growth, and a sustainable future; however, it is hard to agree that there is a consensus on the definition of carbon efficiency. To fill this gap, we reviewed the literature on carbon efficiency, especially the empirical studies that quantitatively measured carbon efficiency. As a result, we have categorized the articles into three groups based on defined criteria of carbon efficiency. We have also classified the methodology to measure carbon efficiency and to discuss misleading definitions in the empirical studies. Lastly, we suggest a desirable direction to define and measure carbon efficiency along with discussion points. Carbon efficiency is different from energy efficiency and our review will help build the carbon efficiency concept in a proper direction.

Keywords: carbon efficiency; carbon emission; carbon intensity; energy efficiency; sustainable development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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