Abstract: The relationship between carbon emission and economic growth is an important subject of environmental economics research.In this paper，GDP per capita and CO2 emission per capita of Shaanxi Province from 1995 to 2009 are studied.We use EKC theory and the theory of decoupling to analyze the relationship between the forecasts of longterm evolution and shortterm change.Empirical studies show that the longterm relationship between carbon emission and economic growth in that period does not correspond to the theoretical EKC hypothesis of an inverted “U” shape，but shows an “N” type of relationship.On the other hand，decoupling theory further demonstrates that there appear decoupling of different degrees between the two on the shortterm basis：the “strong decoupling” state from 1997 to 1999 and “negative expansion decoupling” in 2001 and from 2003 to 2006.Since 2007，the two have been in a “weak decoupling” state.Seen from both the longterm and shortterm relationship，carbon emission in Shaanxi will keep growing in the future.

Key words: Shaanxi Province, EKC theory, decoupling theory, carbon emission, economic growth