Towards Carbon-Neutral Cities: Urban Classification Based on Physical Environment and Carbon Emission Characteristics

Cities are highly industrialized and populated areas and major sources of greenhouse gas emissions. For carbon neutrality, examining the correlation between urban characteristics and greenhouse gas emissions is necessary. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of each city from a carbon neutrality perspective. As such, we conducted a carbon-neutral city analysis. First, the physical environmental variables of 250 municipal, county, and district local governments were collected and constructed and then reduced and purified through factor analysis. Second, the type was derived by performing cluster analysis on the reduced factor variables and carbon emissions by analysis unit. Finally, the characteristics of each type were analyzed, and the carbon-neutral city planning and applicable carbon-neutral technology fields were proposed according to the characteristics. After the categorization of carbon-neutral cities throughout Korea, six cluster types were derived; cities in each cluster had similar characteristics. This study suggests that solutions for carbon reduction should be applied by comprehensively considering the social, economic, and environmental characteristics of each city. It concludes that regional physical environmental indicators and energy consumption statistics can be used comprehensively to establish effective policies and apply technologies and techniques at the local government level.