【Objective】The present paper aimed to study the spatial-temporal characteristics and influencing factors of carbon emission from cultivated land use transformation in Heilongjiang province, in order to provide reference for achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality.【Method】Based on the carbon emission coefficient and spatial autocorrelation analysis, the temporal and spatial differentiation characteristics of carbon emission from cultivated land use transformation in Heilongjiang province in 1990—2020 were revealed, and the influencing factors of carbon emission from cultivated land use transformation in Heilongjiang province were detected by geographical detector model.【Result】(i) The cultivated land area increased in Heilongjiang province in 1990—2020, and the conversion between cultivated land and forest land, grassland was the most significant. The carbon emission of cultivated land use transformation decreased from 1126 531 t in 1990—2000 to 125 292.3 t in 2000—2010, and then increased to 1793 129.5 t in 2010—2020. The carbon emission of cultivated land use transformation decreased first and then increased, but it was the carbon source region.(ii) The carbon emissions from cultivated land use transformation had a spatial agglomeration effect, and the hot spots moved from southwest to east and then to northwest, and from plain to hilly. The cold spot area showed a trend of extending from northwest to southeast in 1990—2020.(iii) Carbon emissions from cultivated land use transformation were mainly dominated by natural environment factors, and elevation factor had the strongest explanatory power in 1990—2020. The carbon emission from cultivated land use transformation was the result of the comprehensive effects of natural environment, social economy and policy factors. The interaction between natural environment and social economy factors was the strongest, and the interaction between natural environment and social economy factors was mainly nonlinear, and the interaction between slope and land use degree was the strongest. 【Conclusion】The spatial-temporal characteristics and influencing factors of carbon emission from cultivated land use transformation in Heilongjiang province were analyzed, which provided theoretical support for regional low-carbon sustainable utilization of cultivated land. The next research should focus on the carbon emission from the transformation of land property rights, operation mode and input and output under the hidden form of cultivated land use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]