Sustainability of Decarbonization: A Systematic Review of Policy Integration and Regional Realities

In the face of accelerating climate change, global efforts to decarbonize have intensified, but the sustainability of these policies remains contested. While emissions reductions have become central to climate strategies, insufficient integration of equity, governance, and economic resilience often undermines long-term effectiveness. This review synthesizes peer-reviewed literature from 2014 to 2025 drawn from Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to evaluate how current decarbonization policies align with broader sustainability goals. The review examines regional disparities, governance structures, financial frameworks, and technological readiness to understand both the progress and shortcomings of existing strategies. Findings reveal that many policies disproportionately emphasize environmental targets while neglecting social justice, institutional coordination, and financial risk management. Regional case studies highlight that one-size-fits-all approaches are ineffective; successful decarbonization requires policy mixes tailored to local socioeconomic and governance contexts. Furthermore, the influence of political economy especially fossil fuel vested interests frequently hinders inclusive transitions. Despite digital innovations and emerging multi-level governance practices, systemic gaps persist in monitoring frameworks, participatory decision-making, and financial safeguards for vulnerable groups and markets. The review concludes that sustainable decarbonization demands integrated, equity-focused, and context-specific policy frameworks. Strengthening institutional coherence, expanding sustainability metrics, and investing in interdisciplinary research are essential to achieve resilient, inclusive, and environmentally sound energy transitions aligned with global development goals.