A comparative review of whole-life-cycle carbon emission assessment in the building sector: progress, challenges, and trends in China and globally

As a significant source of global carbon emissions, the construction industry’s full life cycle carbon emission assessment is crucial for addressing climate change. Although a substantial body of relevant research has been accumulated in academia, significant differences still exist among countries and regions in terms of research depth, system coverage, and tool application. Therefore, systematically reviewing the status, trends, and challenges of carbon emissions in the building sector holds important significance for achieving carbon neutrality goals. This study analyzed 80 peer‑reviewed papers using quantitative and qualitative methods to compare China’s research progress with that of other countries from the perspectives of research focus, methodological approach, and software tools. The results indicate that life‑cycle assessment (LCA) has become the mainstream analytical method worldwide; however, methodological subjectivity in defining system boundaries continues to limit result comparability. Chinese studies tend to emphasize emissions in the construction phase, while international research concentrates on operational and maintenance stages, revealing different developmental priorities between emerging and mature construction markets. In terms of technical tools, China still relies heavily on domestic platforms such as Glodon and less on advanced simulation tools like SimaPro or EnergyPlus, suggesting opportunities for deeper integration with international standards and digital technologies. Overall, these patterns highlight a global convergence toward comprehensive, tool‑assisted life‑cycle carbon assessment, yet also expose the uneven pace of methodological and technological advancements across regions. By quantifying these gaps, this study provides empirical and strategic insights to support the green and low‑carbon transformation of the global construction industry.