Spatial planning can function as a switchboard for mitigation, adaptation, and low-carbon development objectives. However, its role in tackling climate change remains ambiguous as there exist considerable differences in the outcomes of limited studies. A vast diversity in spatial planning factors, along with the indirectness and complexity in the influencing mechanism, can be possible reasons behind this uncertainty. In order to clarify the effect of the spatial planning factors and analyze their mechanisms, we systematically reviewed the literature on this topic from the year 2005 to 2020. Based on the articles reviewed, we identified seven major factors that affect CO₂ emissions from different spatial planning levels. Additionally, we decompose the interrelationships among the causal factors and propose models of the direct and indirect effects of each factor on the CO₂ emissions. Further, we summarized the mode of influence of each factor in different CO₂ emission sectors, clarified the dissimilar results between studies, and analyzed the key reasons that led to the ambiguity to have a robust understanding. We also propose specific planning suggestions to control CO₂ emissions, outline a future direction for the overall multi-factor composite research and put forward approaches to optimize the research method.

空间规划可以充当缓解，适应和低碳发展目标的总机。但是，由于有限研究的结果存在很大差异，因此它在应对气候变化中的作用仍然模棱两可。空间规划因素的巨大多样性以及影响机制的间接性和复杂性，可能是这种不确定性的背后原因。为了弄清空间规划因素的影响并分析它们的作用机理，我们系统地回顾了2005年至2020年有关该主题的文献。根据所回顾的文章，我们确定了影响CO _2的七个主要因素。来自不同空间规划水平的排放。此外，我们分解了因果因素之间的相互关系，并提出了每个因素对CO ₂排放的直接和间接影响的模型。此外，我们总结了每个因素在不同的CO ₂排放领域中的影响方式，阐明了研究之间的不同结果，并分析了导致对模糊性有深刻理解的关键原因。我们还提出了控制CO ₂排放的具体规划建议，概述了整体多因素复合研究的未来方向，并提出了优化研究方法的方法。