Examining the impact factors of energy-related CO2 emissions using the STIRPAT model in Guangdong Province, China

► We employ the STIRPAT model to examine the impact factors of CO2 emissions in Guangdong Province. ► We employed the ridge regression to fit the extended STIRPAT model. ► Population size, urbanization and GDP per capita, industrialization increase emissions. ► Carbon intensity, energy structure and export dependence decrease emissions. ► Population scale is the most important impact factors of CO2 emissions.