###### Abstract  
Household energy consumption is one of the major drivers of carbon emissions, and an in-depth analysis of its influencing factors, along with forecasting carbon emission trajectories, is crucial for achieving China's carbon emission targets. This study reviews the research progress on urban household energy-related carbon emissions (HErc) in China since 2000, with a focus on the latest developments in influencing factors. The study categorizes these factors into five major groups: household characteristics, economic attributes, energy consumption features, awareness and norms, and policies and interventions. The findings indicate that income levels, energy efficiency, and household size are the key determinants of urban HErc of China and are commonly used as core assumptions in scenario-based forecasts of emission trends. In addition, although environmental awareness and government services have increasingly garnered attention, their specific effects require further investigation due to the challenges in quantification. A synthesis of existing forecasting studies suggests that, without the implementation of effective measures, HErc will continue to rise, and the peak emission period will be delayed. Enhancing building and energy efficiency, promoting low-carbon consumption and clean energy applications, and implementing multidimensional coordinated policies are considered the most effective pathways for emission reduction. h 2025 15 2961 2025 1  
Research Article  
1 The Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310028, China; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (Q.Z. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (W.G. )2 The Center for Balance Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310028, China; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (Y.W. )2 The Center for Balance Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310028, China; lyh_zju@126.  
has also outlined an ambitious goal of reaching carbon emission peak by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 [4]. In global emission reduction efforts, household energy consumption, as a major source of carbon emissions, has garnered increasing attention, particularly in urban areas. In 2021, the global urban population accounted for 56% of the total population, and it is projected to rise to 68% by 2050 [5]. The rapid process of urbanization has driven economic growth while also intensifying energy consumption and carbon emissions, especially in China. China's urbanization rate is expected to surpass 65% in 2022, and with economic development and rising income levels, urban household energy consumption has been rapidly increasing [6]. Between 2010 and 2020, China's urban household energy consumption grew at an average annual rate of about 6% [7]. This shift has not only increased energy demand but also led to a significant rise in carbon emissions. As the world's largest energy consumer and carbon emitter, China's urban household carbon emissions play a significant role in the nation's total emissions. In recent years, despite progress in energy structure adjustments and technological innovation [8], carbon emissions at the household level still face numerous challenges. First, changes in energy consumption patterns due to smaller household sizes and an aging population have the potential to increase per capita carbon emissions [9]. Second, regional development imbalances result in significant variations in energy demand and carbon emission characteristics across different areas [10]. Moreover, environmental awareness and low-carbon behaviors have yet to be fully widespread, and the effectiveness of policy measures is constrained by various factors [11]. Systematically reviewing and analyzing existing research to clarify the multidimensional factors influencing household energy-related carbon emissions (HErC) in China is an urgent issue. Although existing studies have explored HErC, systematic analysis of urban HErC in China remains insufficient.