This work presents the algorithmic methodology Carbon Sources Diagram (CSD), which enables the management of GHG emissions through the creation of an energy planning proposing an optimal fuel mix. The CSD allows identifying the minimum amount of zero and low carbon energy sources needed to attend the energy demand of several regions satisfying GHG emissions constraints, to establish a sustainable development scenario. To show the feasibility of the proposed methodology two case studies are presented. The first one is used to explain the algorithm of the methodology, and the second one represents a planning for the Brazilian electricity sector in 2020, in which it is aimed to maintain emissions at 2013 levels and meet the projected demand. To reach so, the extra amount of electric power from zero carbon emission sources is estimated at 106,617 GWh, and the total emission of the electricity system is 54,729 ktCO(2). To meet this target, it is observed that all the power plants under construction should operate with a technical factor (hours of operation per year) greater than the present one. Furthermore, besides being a simple applicability tool, CSD allows the synthesis of several energy networks, according to the designer needs. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.