decarbonized

Decarbonized is an adjective describing a system, process, or energy source in which carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced to very low levels or eliminated. It is commonly used in climate policy and industry to refer to electricity generation, heating, transportation, and certain industrial processes that operate with minimal or no net CO2 emissions. The term often implies reliance on low-emission or zero-emission technologies, such as renewable energy, electrification powered by clean electricity, or the use of low-carbon fuels and carbon capture where appropriate.

In practice, decarbonization is part of a broader transition toward lower greenhouse gas emissions. It contrasts with broader “decarbonization” goals and with targets for net-zero emissions, which seek balance of remaining emissions with removals rather than absolute zero emissions in every sector. Assessing decarbonization typically involves carbon intensity metrics (emissions per unit of energy or output), as well as life-cycle and supply-chain accounting to capture indirect emissions (scope 2 and scope 3).

Achieving a decarbonized state generally requires expanding renewable and low-emission energy sources, improving energy efficiency, electrifying end-use sectors, adopting low-carbon fuels such as green hydrogen, and deploying carbon capture, utilization, and storage where feasible. It also involves addressing residual emissions in hard-to-abate sectors, mitigating intermittency and transmission constraints, and ensuring economic and social viability during the transition. The term is widely used in policy documents, corporate sustainability reporting, and energy-transition discourse.