The effects of poverty alleviation investment on carbon emissions in China based on the multiregional input–output model

•This article analyzed the effects of poverty alleviation on carbon emissions reduction.•Carbon emission efficiency of poverty alleviation has obvious spatial and industrial agglomeration characteristics.•The economic growth trend of "rapid rise, fluctuating growth" derived by poverty alleviation was identified.•Carbon reduction effects of poverty alleviation were continuously optimized. The effective coupling of poverty alleviation and carbon emission reduction goals is an important requirement for sustainable economic development in the present day. In this paper, we utilized socioeconomic data to construct a multiregional input-output (MRIO) table for 27 industries in 30 provinces of China. Multiregional input-output analysis and carbon emission intensity analysis were applied to analyze the effects of poverty alleviation investment on carbon emissions. We found that an investment in poverty alleviation has produced an increase in China's economic aggregate growth from 2010 to 2017. During this time period, the fastest economic growth occurred in 2012 and the regions with the greatest economic drivers were Yunnan and Guizhou. Regarding the industry sector, the construction industry and non-metal products industries had the highest contribution to economy. The economic contribution of the agricultural and food processing industries was insufficient. Poverty alleviation in 26 provinces effectively reduced carbon emission intensity, and the effects were continuously optimized from 2010 to 2017. However, this effect in Inner Mongolia and other 3 provinces was weak. In addition, the effect of carbon emission reduction in the energy production and mining industries was not ideal. This study focuses on the effect of poverty alleviation investment on carbon emissions, which can provide policy guidance for poverty alleviation and green economic growth in China.