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• Dynamic scenario analysis illustrated the stepwise decarbonization potential of building operations. • Annual carbon abatement intensities in China and U.S. in 2001–2018 were 9.8 and 17.7 kgCO 2 /m2. • China will hit CO 2 peak in 2039 at 1365 Mt, while carbon lock-in of the U.S. will stabilize at 664 Mt. • Electricity decarbonization (on-site & off-site) is essential for China and the U.S. to go carbon neutral. • Improving energy efficiency is the best practical way to break the operational carbon lock-in. Building operations are the last steps to achieve global carbon neutrality, especially commercial building operations with high emission abatement potential. Taking China and the United States (U.S.) as cases, this study is the first to illustrate a stepwise decarbonization potential to carbon neutrality in regard to global commercial building operations. The results indicate that the historical annual carbon abatement intensity in China's commercial building operations in 2001–2018 was 9.8 kg of carbon dioxide per square meter (kgCO 2 /m2) or 59.9 kgCO 2 /person, while the annual carbon abatement intensity in the U.S. during the same time was 17.7 kgCO 2 /m2 or 353.7 kgCO 2 /person. In the moderate decarbonization scenario, China's commercial building operations will reach the carbon peak at 1365 (± 255) mega-tons of carbon dioxide (MtCO 2) in 2039 (± 5), while the carbon lock-in status in the U.S. will stabilize at 664 (± 155) MtCO 2 after 2030. To further conduct deep decarbonization and realize carbon neutrality, strategies of building-integrated power generation, building electricity decarbonization, and building energy efficiency can achieve 34.3%, 29.7%, and 22.5% of carbon abatement in China and 31.0%, 45.4%, and 10.2% of carbon abatement in the U.S., respectively, by 2060. Moreover, the current mode of improving the energy efficiency level of commercial building operations was reviewed to seek the best practical way to decarbonize operations. Overall, this study provides a reference of a stepwise data analysis for decarbonization potential on commercial building operations across different emitters. [Display omitted]. Graphical abstract. (a) Decarbonization potential and the steps to carbon neutrality of commercial building operations in China and the U.S.; (b) Technical benchmarks of carbon peak status in China's commercial building operations; (c) Technical benchmarks of carbon lock- in the U.S.'s commercial building operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon mitigation effectiveness in the building sector profoundly determines the achievement of the "Dual carbon" target. However, the timetable and roadmap for the building sector to achieve such a target are still lacking. This study constructs a STIRPAT-PLS model framework to clarify the impact of the key factors from various dimensions on building carbon emissions across sub-sectors. Then, a dynamic scenario simulation model is established and applied in China to explore the dynamic evolutionary paths, and the timetable and roadmap are ultimately formulated. The results show that building sector will probably peak at 2.99 (± 0.09) Gt CO 2 in 2036 (± 1). Rural residential buildings will peak earliest in 2026 (± 1), followed by urban residential and commercial buildings: in 2036 (± 2) and 2038 (± 1). Achieving carbon neutrality will require the building sector to peak its carbon emissions in 2026 with 2.16–2.40 Gt CO 2. The remaining 0.56–0.81 Gt CO 2 by 2060 will be offset by negative carbon technologies. Dynamic sensitivity analysis shows that building floor space per capita and energy intensity significantly promote the emission peaks, and population and building floor space per capita markedly impact the peaking times. This study can promote the development of the theory and model for carbon emissions prediction. It can also offer a scientific basis for governments to set effective carbon-reduction targets and paths. [Display omitted] • Constructing a STIRPAT-PLS model to clarify the impact of critical factors on building carbon emissions. • Establishing a dynamic scenario simulation model by combining the Monte Carlo simulation and scenario analysis. • Building sector will probably peak at 2.99 (± 0.09) Gt CO 2 in 2036 (± 1). • Achieving carbon neutrality requires the building sector to peak its carbon emissions in 2026 with 2.16–2.40 Gt CO 2. • Building floor space per capita and energy intensity significantly promote the emission peaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Establishes an integrated dynamic emission assessment model by coupling end-use energy model and system dynamics model. • Explores the dynamic interaction mechanism between macrolevel and microlevel factors as well as technical options. • Commercial buildings will probably hit the emission peak at 1.28Gt CO 2 in 2037 under the BAU scenario. • Lighting and cooling will contribute over 70% to the carbon emission growth. • Technological progress, clean energy, and electrification rate play significant roles in boosting emission peak and peaking time. Carbon-mitigation in the commercial building sector is critical to carbon peaking and carbon neutral commitment. However, there has been little scientific focus on long-term evolutionary trajectories and peak path in this sector. This study innovatively develops an integrated dynamic emission assessment model (IDEAM) by combining the system dynamics model with the bottom-up end-use energy model. Moreover, the IDEAM is combined with the scenario analysis approach to model the dynamic evolution of Chinese commercial building carbon emissions toward 2060. The results show that commercial building carbon emissions will peak at 1.28 Gigatons (Gt) of CO 2 in 2037 under the baseline scenario and will advance toward 2029 with an emissions peak of 0.98 Gt CO 2 under the low-carbon scenario. Cooling and lighting are the two end-uses that contribute most to the growth of carbon emissions at over 70%. These two end-uses indicate different carbon-abatement potentials across climate zones. Sensitivity analysis reveals that promoting technological progress, increasing the share of clean energy, and improving low-carbon awareness are major ways to facilitate the early realization of carbon peaks and carbon neutrality. This study provides a deeper understanding of possible emission pathways and could assist policy-makers in devising scientific carbon mitigation plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-reduction effect of the urban residential building sector is crucial to the carbon neutrality target. This study aims to explore the interaction mechanism among influencing factors and simulate the future evolutionary trajectories of urban residential building carbon emissions (URBCE). An integrated dynamic emission assessment (IDEA) model is innovatively established by coupling the system dynamics (SD) model and a bottom-up end-use decomposition model. Combining with the scenario analysis approach, this IDEA model is applied in China's urban residential building sector from 2000 to 2060. Results show that under the baseline scenario, the URBCE will fail to peak before 2030 but will peak at 1.19 Bt CO 2 in 2037. In comparison, it will peak at 0.79 Bt CO 2 in 2025 and decline to 0.17 Bt CO 2 in 2060 under carbon-neutral scenario, which can be neutralized by negative carbon technologies. Different end-uses and climate zones show marked discrepancies in emission-reduction potential, with the contribution of heating and appliances being over 50%. Sensitivity analyses shows that the low-carbon awareness, electrification rate, proportion of clean energy generation and technological progress contribute positively to the early peak of URBCE. This study provides a deeper understanding of China's potential peaking paths and can assist policy-makers in better evaluating emission paths for other nations and regions. [Display omitted] • Develops an IDEA model by combining system dynamics model and LEAP model. • Explores the interaction and feedback mechanism among different levels of factors. • Simulates the URBCE by combining the IDEA model and scenario analysis approach. • Urban residential buildings will peak at 1.19 Bt CO 2 in 2037 under the BAU scenario. • Different end-uses and climate zones show marked discrepancies in emission-reduction potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]