Decarbonization of heating sector is an important part of the global low carbon energy transition, and an essential step towards implementing climate change mitigation commitments as this sector accounts for 40–50 % of global energy consumption and is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In addition, this sector is sensitive in terms of energy vulnerability and energy poverty. The aim of this paper is to develop a set of indicators and evaluation tool for assessing sustainability of the heating sector at national level and to apply developed methodology for comparative assessment in selected North European countries. The set of indicators developed address concept of sustainability in holistic way and could also be applied universally to compare the European Union (EU) countries and to track the achievements of measures taken at the EU level and in national energy strategies and plans. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) performed by applying the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and four scenarios of heating sector sustainability assessment revealed that three Nordic Countries are the highest ranked according to all sustainability assessment scenarios. These countries can be the cases of the best practice in the heating sector.

供热部门的脱碳是全球低碳能源转型的重要组成部分，也是实现减缓气候变化承诺的必不可少的一步，因为该部门占全球能源消耗的40％至50％，并且是温室气体的主要来源之一（温室气体排放量）。此外，该部门在能源脆弱性和能源贫困方面也很敏感。本文的目的是开发一套指标和评估工具，以在国家层面评估供热部门的可持续性，并将发达的方法学应用于选定的北欧国家中的比较评估。制定的这套指标以整体的方式解决了可持续性的概念，也可以普遍用于比较欧盟国家，并跟踪在欧盟一级以及国家能源战略和计划中所采取措施的成就。通过应用类似于理想解决方案的优先顺序技术（TOPSIS）进行的多标准决策分析（MCDA）和四个供热部门可持续性评估方案显示，在所有可持续性评估方案中，三个北欧国家排名最高。这些国家可能是供热部门的最佳做法。通过应用类似于理想解决方案的优先顺序技术（TOPSIS）进行的多标准决策分析（MCDA）和四个供热部门可持续性评估方案显示，在所有可持续性评估方案中，三个北欧国家排名最高。这些国家可能是供热部门的最佳做法。通过应用类似于理想解决方案的优先顺序技术（TOPSIS）进行的多标准决策分析（MCDA）和四个供热部门可持续性评估方案显示，在所有可持续性评估方案中，三个北欧国家排名最高。这些国家可能是供热部门的最佳做法。