Introduction

The complex and multifaceted links between decarbonization and sustainable development have been the subject of numerous studies and analyses, each focusing on different aspects of the relationship. In the following sections, this chapter will explore some of these approaches to gain a comprehensive understanding of the research areas that employ energy–economy modelling to examine the pathways of development and mitigation. The research areas can be broadly classified into five themes: decarbonization, sustainable development, energy systems, energy policy, and the intricate connections that exist between decarbonization and sustainable development.

Decarbonization

Decarbonization is the process by which countries or other entities aim to achieve a low-carbon economy, or by which individuals aim to reduce their consumption of carbon (IPCC, 2014a).

The decarbonization theme can further be studied under two focus areas: strategies for mitigation and effective deployment of renewables. In the first focus area, which is strategies for mitigation, studies emphasize the importance of much more stringent action for mitigation than the currently proposed actions in order to meet 2oC target (Van Sluisveld et al., 2013). Other studies have suggested that shifting to renewable energy, carbon-negative technologies like carbon capture, and storage and energy efficiency technologies in end-use sectors like households and industries are critical for achieving mitigation (IEA, 2015b; Shukla and Chaturvedi, 2012). Under the second focus area of renewables, it is found that research and development (R&D) in these technologies, along with the transfer of technology from developed to developing countries, plays an important role in promoting the deployment of renewables (Kumar and Madlener, 2016). A recent study says that policies for renewables should be aligned with mitigation targets for cost-effectively achieving decarbonization (Mittal et al., 2016).