Improving　efficiencies　in　CO2　emissions　plays　an　important　role　in　achieving　carbon　neutrality,　but　often　overlooked　in　the　planning　and　transformation　of　energy　systems.　Although　data　envelopment　analysis　(DEA)　models　are　widely　used　for　measuring　efficiency,　few　papers　have　paid　attention　to　whether　the　selected　variables　properly　reflect　the　process　of　real-life　production.　This　paper　presents　improvements　to　the　existing　inputoutput　variable　system　of　total-factor　CO2　emissions　efficiency　(TFCEE).　The　underlying　research　uses　a　slacksbased　measure　(SBM)　with　undesirable　outputs　to　evaluate　industrial　TFCEE　in　Shandong　Province,　China,　during　the　period　2006-2017.　Based　on　current　potential　for　CO2　emissions　abatement,　a　roadmap　is　proposed　for　the　＂2030　center　dot　60　targets＂.　We　ascertained　that　the　main　engine　of　net　zero　CO2　emissions　is　efficiency　improvement　initially,　shifting　to　structural　adjustment　by　2035.　By　2037,　carbon　capture,　utilization,　and　storage　(CCUS)　technologies　are　expected　to　be　the　second　largest　emission　reducer,　following　structural　adjustment.　Based　on　a　correct　variable　selection　for　CO2　emissions　efficiency　measurement　and　the　exploration　of　a　carbon　emission　reduction　roadmap,　this　study　provides　both　empirical　evidence　and　policy　implications　for　achieving　carbon　peak　and　carbon　neutral　targets　in　industrially　developed　regions　such　as　Shandong　Province.