Structural,　economic　and　technological　effects　are　the　three　key　factors　in　the　change　of　carbon　dioxide　(CO2)　emissions　under　the　environmental　Kuznets　curve　hypothesis.　Given　the　infeasibility　of　curbing　economic　growth　and　the　limited　impact　of　structural　changes　in　the　economy　while　ensuring　basic　well-being,　green　technology　progress　(GTP)　is　considered　an　effective　path　for　achieving　carbon　reduction　targets.　However,　existing　research　on　how　GTP　affects　CO2　emissions　is　incomplete.　Therefore,　we　employ　the　spatial　Durbin　model　to　conduct　an　in-depth　examination　of　the　mechanism　underpinning　GTP　regarding　its　impact　on　CO2　emissions　based　on　2008–2020　panel　data　on　30　Chinese　provinces.　The　results　show　that,　first,　GTP　has　an　evident　“technological　dividend”,　which　significantly　inhibits　local　CO2　emissions;　however,　the　spatial　spillover　effect　of　GTP　is　not　remarkable　due　to　insufficient　technological　spillover　and　mismatch　of　acceptability.　Second,　this　paper　identifies　three　potential　transmission　channels—the　industrial　structure,　the　energy　structure,　and　energy　efficiency—through　which　GTP　effects　CO2　emissions.　Third,　a　substantial　regional　disparity　exists　in　the　influence　of　GTP　on　CO2　emissions,　with　the　eastern　region　experiencing　a　notable　reduction　in　carbon　emissions　due　to　GTP,　whereas　not　significantly　in　the　central　and　western　regions.　The　innovation　environment　is　a　possible　cause　of　regional　heterogeneity:　improving　human　capital　and　expanding　the　scale　of　technology　market　development　have　significant　effects　on　reducing　emissions　through　GTP,　while　the　marginal　emission　reduction　effect　of　government　technology　support　is　not　significant.　The　findings　presented　in　this　study　carry　substantial　implications　for　advancing　toward　low-carbon　economic　development　and　realizing　the　ambitious　goal　of　achieving　carbon　neutrality.　©　2024　Elsevier　B.V.