Objective The aims were to explore the transition of "production-living-ecological" space and its carbon effect in Heilongjiang Province, which will provide scientific basis for the sustainable development of Heilongjiang Province.

Method The classification system of "production-living-ecological" space was established, and the dynamic index, transfer matrix and center model of “production-living-ecological” space were used to analyse the characteristics of spatial transition, and the change of carbon storage was analysed through the InVEST model.

Result The study indicated that the "production-living-ecological" space exhibit a symmetrical pattern, with production space maintaining a sustained growth trend, living space maintaining a stable growth trend, and ecological space showing a sudden weakening and increasing trend. The overall transition characteristics of the “production-living-ecological” space showed significant changes in the early stage, fluctuating changes in the middle stage, and slow changes in the later stage. The transition scale of forest ecological space and agricultural production space was relatively large, and the transition of industrial and mining production space was the most intense. The overall scale of carbon storage shows a "N" type fluctuation change, with a total decrease of 30.02 Tg during the study period, and the range of low value areas of carbon storage gradually shrink. The change of carbon storage is deeply affected by the transition of "production-living-ecological" space. The transition of production space and ecological space dominated the change of carbon storage, and production space gradually became another pillar space for the increase of carbon storage.

Conclusion Heilongjiang Province is gradually transitioning from a stage of spatial transition and conflict to a stage of relaxation. It is necessary to maintain stable production space, optimize living space layout, promote coordinated development of "production-living-ecological" space, and continuously improve regional carbon sequestration and sink enhancement capabilities.