Visual Analysis of Global Carbon Mitigation Research Based on Scientific Knowledge Graphs

Abstract

Global temperature change is related to the destiny of all mankind, and carbon mitigation, as well as greenhouse gases control, are key points. In order to explore the basic knowledge, research hotspots and trends in global carbon mitigation research, this paper, based on 15,304 carbon mitigation articles from Web of Science, from 1991 to 2021, conducts spatio-temporal distribution, country distribution, research hotspots and cooperation network analysis, and draws frontier knowledge graphs of carbon mitigation by using CiteSpace, Gephi and other scientific knowledge mapping and literature analysis software. The key scholars, important literature, main contribution institutions and countries/regions in the field of carbon mitigation research were extracted, and the research basis and evolution law were displayed. The study found that: (1) The research on carbon mitigation is increasing every year, which can be roughly divided into four stages: germination, low-speed development, medium-speed development and high-speed development. (2) The spatial distribution of carbon mitigation research is unbalanced, mainly showing a characteristic of “one super and many strong” centered on the United States. (3) The research hotspots of carbon mitigation have gradually evolved from phenomenon analysis, policy guidance, method exploration to mechanism improvement. Further research might focus on ocean carbon sink, carbon trading and carbon-negative technology.