Abstract: The construction of the whole life-cycle carbon emission accounting system of the power system is a prerequisite for achieving the rational allocation of carbon resources, facilitating coordinated credible trading of electricity and carbon, and advancing energy transformation emission reduction and decarbonization. The evolution of the definition of carbon footprint, and the characteristics and application area of different carbon emission accounting methods are discussed first. The scope of life-cycle carbon footprint accounting is defined. Then, the studies on carbon emission accounting methods for clean energy power generation, transmission and distribution networks, and electricity loads are further reviewed, where the principles of the methods, system boundaries, and application scenarios are comprehensively analyzed and compared. Moreover, a life-cycle carbon footprint accounting method for the power system is proposed by combining the life-cycle assessment method and the user's indirect carbon emission accounting method. Finally, the proposed method is summarized and prospected in terms of accounting methods and key technologies, along with the development and challenges of full life-cycle carbon footprint accounting methods are presented considering relevant application scenarios, which will lay a theoretical foundation for the construction, development, and improvement of the whole life-cycle carbon emission accounting system of the power system.