Polycyclic　aromatic　hydrocarbons　(PAHs)　are　emitted　into　the　environment　by　daily　anthropogenic　activities　and　they　potentially　threaten　human　health.　Over　the　past　40　years,　the　coupling　between　PAHs　emissions　driven　by　energy　transition　and　socioeconomic　factors　has　yet　to　be　determined,　and　future　trends　between　the　two　parameters　are　unclear.　In　China,　the　emissions　of　PAHs　increased　from　1980　to　2016,　and　the　average　annual　variation　rate　was　3.5%.　After　2016,　PAHs　emissions　were　decoupled　from　socioeconomic　growth.　PAHs　emissions　exhibited　a　change　from　a　developed　region　(eastern　region)　to　an　undeveloped　region　(central　region　and　western　region).　The　emissions　of　PAHs,　if　only　driven　by　energy　transition,　will　reach　a　peak　in　2035　under　the　shared　economic　pathways　(SSP1,　SSP2,　SSP4,　and　SSP5),　which　are　defined　to　assess　sustainable　development.　The　emissions　of　PAHs　will　continuously　increase　by　+9.8%　under　SSP3　during　2020-2050.　Comparing　these　five　socioeconomic　pathways,　SSP1　is　the　possible　choice　to　achieve　the　sustainable　decoupling　of　the　emissions　of　PAHs　and　socioeconomic　growth　by　transforming　the　drivers　of　economic　growth,　thereby　optimizing　the　energy　system　and　cultivating　environmentally　friendly　behaviors.