China　is　under　rapid　urbanization　and　consequently　facing　increasing　carbon　emissions　(CE).　Economic　growth　(EG)　and　innovation　performance　(IP),　as　two　critical　indicators　of　urbanization,　are　considered　the　driving　forces　of　CE.　Although　economy　and　innovation　are　entangled　and　can　jointly　affect　CE　in　reality,　the　measured　effects　of　economy　and　innovation　on　CE　are　often　treated　separately　in　traditional　studies.　We　adopted　a　three-part　research　framework　including　the　total,　interaction　and　mediation　effect　tests　to　elucidate　how　EG　and　IP　affected　CE　in　China　from　2005　to　2015　based　on　insights　from　282　Chinese　cities.　The　empirical　results　showed　that　both　economy　and　innovation　contributed　to　CE,　although　the　contribution　has　reduced　over　the　11　years.　In　particular,　the　interaction　effect　between　economy　and　innovation　for　North　China,　Northeast　China,　and　Southwest　China　was　−4.201,　−8.442,　and　−　3.897,　respectively,　in　2015,　meaning　that　these　regions　adversely　affect　CE.　In　addition,　we　found　that　the　economy　helps　reduce　CE　via　innovation.　When　considering　the　changes　of　economy　and　innovation,　their　mediation　effect　on　CE　changes　varied　in　different　regions,　attributable　to　the　level　of　economy　and　innovation　as　well　as　the　stocks　of　energy　resources.　Therefore,　future　planning　for　low-carbon　transition　should　regard　the　economy　and　innovation　together.　Based　on　this　principle,　we　propose　five　detailed　policies.　Overall,　this　study　is　valuable　not　only　for　further　understanding　the　triangle　relationship　among　economy,　innovation,　and　CE,　but　also　for　reaching　low-carbon　goals.　©　2022　Elsevier　B.V.