This paper explores the impact of international energy price volatility on China’s carbon emissions, through the international energy prices, international oil prices and international coal prices, from Granger causality and empirical analysis of the two dimensions, and its impact on carbon emissions. The results show that: (1) international energy prices, international oil prices and international coal prices are per capita carbon emissions of Granger reasons, but are not the carbon intensity of Granger reasons; (2) the three international energy prices have a direct and positive impact on the per capita carbon emissions. International energy prices and international oil prices have a significant negative impact on carbon intensity, but international coal prices have not obvious positive effects on carbon intensity; (3) international energy prices, international oil prices and international coal prices per capita GDP, energy structure and energy efficiency on the per capita c arbon emissions and carbon emission intensity of the regulatory effect of varying degrees of distortions.