Research evolution on low-carbon city measure study: A bibliometric analysis

The growing significance of low-carbon city (LCC) in addressing climate change has captured global scholarly attention. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis in the field of LCC measure with data from the Web of Science database between 2003 and 2022. The analysis employs methods including the Mann-Kendall test method, Hurst exponent method, academic influence metrics, social network analysis method, and content analysis method. The results reveal that LCC research has evolved into an integrated research system that is multidisciplinary, multidimensional, and multi-methodological. Energy is the most important topic in the field of LCC measure research throughout the surveyed period. Meanwhile, the low-carbon behaviors of urban residents and the application of digital technology have become relatively emerging research topics. Before 2010, LCC research was mainly conducted in the context of developed countries. However, since 2010, research conducted in the context of developing countries such as China has made substantial contributions, indicating the globalization trend of LCC research. Finally, future LCC measure research should significantly improve the study on small scales, integrate qualitative and quantitative research methods, and utilize advanced technologies such as GIS, IoT, and AI to improve data and result accuracy. Several aspects such as cross-sectoral collaborative management, comparison of low-carbon behaviors and awareness, and carbon sinks in urban natural ecosystems should be further improved. This study provides a comprehensive perspective of LCC research and contributes valuable insights for future study.