Abstract: The conflict between the great demand of energy in the process of rapid urbanization and industrialization and the CO₂-abate pressure under the condition of global warming has become one of the most prominent foci in man-land territorial system. Exploring evolution mechanisms of industrial CO₂ emissions in Zhengzhou- Kaifeng metropolitan area and taking appropriate measures are significant for the theoretical and practical development of low-carbon city and low-carbon economy. Sources of CO₂ emissions from metropolitan areas are divided into six categories, consisting of agricultural, industrial, commercial and residential energy consumption, as well as construction and transportation energy consumption. Industrial CO₂ emissions are further subdivided into 34 kinds of industrial energy consumption. Based on the 2000-2009 Energy consumption data, a CO₂ estimation model to account for CO₂ emissions in scope 1 (only refer to energy combustion) and scope 2 was constructed in this paper. Evolution mechanisms of CO₂ emissions between 2000 and 2009 of six units and 34 kinds of industries were also researched by using LMDI methods. The low-carbon types and low-carbon directions of industrial development are analyzed by decoupling the index in Zhengzhou-Kaifeng metropolitan area. The conclusions can be drawn as follows. (1) The changes of CO₂ emissions show different sectoral and regional characteristics in various stages, due to the adjustment to CO₂ emissions structure. (2) The changes of CO₂ emissions took place in the interaction of factors including intensity (technical) effects, structural effects and scale effects of economies. The main reasons for CO₂ emissions increase are the rapid growth of economies of scale and the exogenous pattern of economic development by inputting factors. The residential sector has less contribution than production sectors to CO₂ emissions, while the gap is gradually narrowing. (3) The decoupling between CO₂ emissions and the economic development determines the direction and the degree of industrial restructuring and upgrading. (4) Further studies should be conducted on the contribution of industrial restructuring to CO₂ emissions and the degree of decoupling.

Key words: decoupling index, industrial carbon emissions, LMDI analysis, low-carbon city and economy, Zhengzhou-Kaifeng metropolitan area