• A new Two-dimensional decoupling model was constructed. • The static and dynamic two-dimensional decoupling state of China’s 30 provinces from 2000 to 2019 was analyzed. • The decoupling state of economic growth and CO 2 emissions of 30 provinces was discussed in two decoupling models. The traditional Tapio decoupling model can not discriminate the decoupling state of a country or region with multiple levels of economic development. Based on this, this paper introduces the economic growth index into the Tapio decoupling model for the first time, and constructs a new two-dimensional decoupling (TDD) model. Through the TDD analysis of economic growth and CO 2 emissions of 30 provinces in China from 2000 to 2019, the three main conclusions can be drawn: (1) the economic development level of the developed eastern provinces is at the medium or high state and the economic growth does not highly depend on energy consumption; (2) The economy of the central and western provinces is at the low or middle level, their economic growth relies too much on energy consumption; (3) The dynamic path of TDD state of 23 provinces is ascendant and the remaining 7 provinces are fluctuant over the 4 sub-periods. Provincial governments should adjust industrial and energy structures based on their local conditions to reduce carbon emissions, as well achieve the ideal TDD state of economic growth and CO 2 emissions, that is, Strong Decoupling-High economic state (SD-HS).