<p>Due to massive economic scale and significant carbon emissions, China serves a pivotal function in mitigating planetary warming trends. Based on the environmental extended input-output model, determinants and mitigation strategies for Chinese CO₂ emissions from 2015 to 2020 were explored by using structural path decomposition methods. The total CO₂ emissions of fuel combustion within Chinese industrial production systems expanded from 11680.43 Mt to 12636.00 Mt, of which Electricity and Heat accounted for the highest proportion of CO₂ emissions. The most critical outflow sectors for the carbon transfer between industries in China were Petroleum and Coking, Chemicals, Metal Smelting and Electricity and Heat. “Non-metallic Minerals/Metal Smelting→Construction→Final Demand” was the most critical industrial chain that contribute to CO₂ emissions expansion. Per capita final demand shifts primarily drove increases in total, sectoral, and industrial chain emissions. This study employs the latest input-output data and more precise decomposition methods to provide new insights into the drivers of CO₂ emissions in China. To meet the 2060 carbon neutrality pledge, governing authorities should concentrate efforts on high-emission sectors and leverage demand-side management strategies along critical industrial chains to effectively decouple economic growth from carbon emissions.</p>