Pathways to Net Zero: A Multi-Dimensional Carbon-Neutrality Framework for Equitable Transition of Rural Communities

Abstract

Despite comprising 42% of the global population and accounting for 23% of annual anthropogenic GHG emissions while offsetting one-third of global CO₂ emissions, rural areas remain critically underrepresented in carbon neutrality research (Guyadeen and Henstra, 2023; Huang et al., 2022; World Bank, 2023).  Existing carbon-neutrality frameworks are predominantly urban-centric, overlooking rural-specific challenges, including persistent energy poverty and development inequalities, as well as significant opportunities for carbon sequestration through natural ecosystems (Harris et al., 2022; WMO, 2024). This study addresses this gap by developing an evidence-based, integrated multi-dimensional framework specifically designed to guide rural communities toward net-zero emissions while leveraging their inherent ecological advantages. The framework addresses the specific technical, economic, and social dimensions of rural decarbonization through six interconnected pillars: (i) GHG inventory and digital monitoring, reporting & verification (dMRV) systems to establish baseline emissions and track progress; (ii) Sectoral mitigation roadmaps for Energy, AFOLU, IPPU, and Waste; (iii) Governance and institutional coordination to ensure multilevel policy alignment and stakeholder engagement; (iv) Financing mechanisms and carbon market integration to mobilize capital and revenue streams; (v) Capacity-building and inclusion strategies to develop local expertise and ensure equitable participation; and (vi) Just transition safeguards to protect vulnerable populations and livelihoods throughout the transformation process. The practical application of the framework is demonstrated through a case study of a displaced tribal community in Chiryapur village, Uttarakhand, India. Baseline assessment revealed annual energy consumption of 3.42 TJ and annual emissions of 3,099 tCO2e from the community, distributed across four sectors. A “bottom-up" low-carbon transition pathway adopted within the framework was proposed to reduce the community’s carbon footprint by reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and promoting the use of renewable energy (biogas, pyrolysis gas, & biochar) produced from an integrated biogas-pyrolysis system in the study area.  The analysis identified locally available biomass (690.2 tonnes) as sufficient for achieving energy independence through an integrated biogas-pyrolysis system, generating 0.83 TJ of energy from biogas and pyrolysis gas, supplemented by 0.47 TJ from biochar, totaling 1.30 TJ of renewable energy. The shortfall of 2.13 TJ, equivalent to ~134,000 kWh of electricity, against the energy requirement can be fulfilled by rooftop solar installations. This transition pathway delivers multiple co-benefits: immediate energy security through biogas and pyrolysis gas for cooking applications, long-term carbon sequestration through biochar soil amendment, and substantial financial returns of USD 53,838 annually via carbon credits from bio-oil sales, renewable gas credits, biochar sequestration, and solar integration, demonstrating a technically feasible and economically viable model for rural net-zero transitions.

This framework bridges a critical research gap by providing policymakers and practitioners with an evidence-based, scalable tool for rural decarbonization that balances technical feasibility, economic viability, social equity, and governance dimensions, ensuring just transitions that protect vulnerable communities while advancing climate goals.

Keywords:

Integrated mitigation framework, Biomass energy systems, Just transition, Equitable decarbonization, Rural climate action