 This study examined the impact of various spatial structure elements on carbon emissions in the city of Chengdu. It found that the overall carbon emission efficiency was highest in the centre and lowest on the sides, due to differences in density, functional mix, land use, and traffic structure. Additionally, the impact of each element varied depending on the development stage of the area. Therefore, it is important to develop differentiated urban planning strategies based on the characteristics of the development of each zone. This article was authored by Qian Feng and Bo Zhu.