Abstract: Using extended STIRPAT model,this paper studied the driving factors of carbon emission in China's four major regions from 1995 to 2016,and revealing the historical contribution and potential of these regions to carbon emission reduction and their differences by constructing related indicators based on decoupling analysis. The results showed that:(1)Factors,such as population,economic development,industrial structure,fixed asset investment,etc. were all stable and important forces for the whole country and these regions,and there were significant differences in these forces for these regions with different carbon emission levels.(2)Foreign trade was a significant driving force only for the northeastern and eastern regions.(3)The energy structure characterizing the technical effect only had expected inhibitory effect in eastern region,while carbon intensity did not have the desired technology spillover effect.(4)During the sample period,the average carbon emission reduction contribution and potentials for each region were all in the order of northeast region,central region,eastern region and western region.