In pursuit of the carbon peaking goal, this research introduces the environmental context-dependent data envelopment analysis approach.
China has steadfastly pledged its dedication to accomplishing carbon peaking by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060, a commitment widely recognized as the Dual Carbon Goal (DCG). The proposition of China's DCG presents formidable challenges for the advancement of the transport sector due to its significant contribution to carbon emissions. Consequently, new carbon abatement constraints have been enforced on carbon emissions within the Chinese transport sector. In pursuit of the carbon peaking goal, this research introduces the environmental context-dependent data envelopment analysis approach. The approach is employed to identify sustainable performance targets for the Chinese transport sector at the city level, while considering carbon abatement constraints. These sustainable performance targets not only provide insights on enhancing the environmental performance of these cities with minimum effort, but also offer a comprehensive pathway towards carbon peaking cities in the Chinese transport sector.