Decarbonizing Logistics: Unveiling the Role of Clean Energy in Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 Through a Theory–Context–Characteristics–Methodology Perspective

ABSTRACT

Climate change and surging global energy demand have heightened the need for sustainable, and affordable energy in industrial sectors. Affordable, reliable, and clean energy is a priority for sustainable economic growth as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 7. Supply chain and logistics systems play an important role in achieving this goal, but they also consume substantial amounts of energy and expand their environmental footprint. This study conducts a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of the relationship between Sustainable Development Goal 7, logistics, and supply chains. To understand the field's intellectual structure and emerging trends, we analyzed a dataset of 361 articles retrieved from the Scopus database using bibliometric tools, including descriptive analysis, co‐citation mapping, and keyword co‐occurrence analysis. The findings show growing academic attention to renewable energy and sustainable logistics systems. The study outlines a future research agenda based on the Theory–Context–Characteristics–Methodology framework, including the following research themes: integration of renewable energy in supply chains, Clean and Circular Economy practices, Climate‐resilient logistics systems, Renewable energy‐based warehouses, Reverse logistics systems, and Sustainable cold chain infrastructure. The research builds on the sustainability and supply chain literature by providing a broad synthesis and highlighting policy and managerial implications for the transition to clean energy in logistics systems as part of Sustainable Development Goal 7.