Urban areas account for approximately 70% of global energy consumption and CO₂ emissions, making them major contributors to climate change and key targets for mitigation. Transitioning to decentralized, sustainable energy systems is essential for achieving climate and sustainability goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on clean energy (SDG 7), sustainable cities (SDG 11), and climate action (SDG 13). Policy frameworks such as the European Green Deal and Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs), alongside Zero Energy and Zero Emissions Buildings (ZEBs) and Positive Energy Districts (PEDs), are driving urban energy transitions. PEDs offer a transformative approach to decarbonization by generating more renewable energy than they consume, achieving a net-positive energy balance. By integrating energy, mobility, and information and communication technology (ICT), they enhance environmental performance, alleviate energy poverty, foster social inclusion, and strengthen local economies. This study expands the conventional energy focus of PEDs by incorporating social and economic resilience as key sustainability components. Despite their potential, PED implementation faces challenges, including infrastructure retrofitting, regulatory fragmentation, financial barriers, and limited public participation. This study systematically reviews a decade of PED research, using the Paris Agreement as a milestone in global climate action. It examines PEDs’ evolution, identifies research gaps, and explores their relationship with social housing. While PEDs are well-connected to energy transition and smart cities, their links to social housing, energy poverty, and equity remain weak. The findings underscore the need for further interdisciplinary research to bridge this gap and ensure PEDs contribute to inclusive, sustainable urban development.