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Cities play a key role in making carbon emission reduction targets achievable and tackling air pollution. Using Guangzhou city as a case, this paper explored the air quality and health co-benefits of peaking carbon dioxide emissions under three scenarios and developed an integrated assessment framework by combining a local air pollutant emission inventory, an atmospheric chemistry transport model, and a health assessment model. The results showed that SO 2 , PM 10 , and PM 2.5 could achieve larger emission reductions than NH 3 , VOCs, and NOx among all the scenarios we examined. Under the enhanced peaking scenario with the most stringent mitigation strategies, Guangzhou could meet the local ambient air quality standard for PM 2.5 (34 μg/m3), with the most reduction observed in the annual average PM 2.5 concentration (28.4%) and related premature deaths (17.08%), compared with the base year 2015. We also identified hotspot grids, which were areas with high concentrations of carbon emissions, high concentrations of air pollution and poor air quality in Guangzhou. Our analysis highlighted the importance of promoting peaking carbon dioxide emission for the improvement of air quality and public health at the city level. • Peaking carbon emission in Guangzhou could achieve substantial pollutant emission reduction. • Guangzhou will meet the local ambient air quality standard for PM 2.5 under the enhanced peaking scenario. • Hotspot grids for controlling CO 2 emissions, air pollutant emissions, and air quality are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]