• Integrates concepts, technologies, metrics, and governance for net-zero pathways. • Reviews deep decarbonization strategies across global and Brazilian contexts. • Identifies barriers and opportunities for low-carbon transition in key sectors. • Discusses policy instruments and R&D incentives supporting climate neutrality. Decarbonization has emerged as a central pillar of global climate strategies, yet its implementation remains uneven across sectors and regions, particularly in activities characterized as hard-to-abate. This review critically synthesizes the scientific literature on decarbonization pathways, focusing on industrial hard-to-abate sectors, the global energy transition, international climate governance, the integration of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) frameworks, and the Brazilian context. The analysis highlights that emissions in sectors such as steel, cement, chemicals, aviation, and maritime transport are often intrinsic to production processes and high-temperature heat requirements, limiting the effectiveness of direct electrification and demanding integrated technological solutions. The literature converges on the relevance of renewable energy expansion, energy efficiency, low- and zero-carbon hydrogen, carbon capture, utilization and storage, and alternative production routes as complementary strategies rather than standalone solutions. From an institutional perspective, global agreements and multilateral frameworks provide strategic guidance but face persistent gaps in implementation, climate finance, and technological diffusion, especially in developing economies. The Brazilian case illustrates both constraints and opportunities, as political and institutional challenges coexist with a predominantly renewable energy matrix, substantial natural capital, and recognized diplomatic capacity. Furthermore, the growing incorporation of carbon metrics into ESG frameworks is identified as a key mechanism for translating climate commitments into corporate strategies and investment decisions. Overall, the review underscores decarbonization as a systemic, long-term, and multi-level process, intrinsically linked to sustainable development objectives, and emphasizes the need for coordinated policies, robust governance, and continued research to support effective and equitable low-carbon transitions.
Roque et al. (2026) studied this question.