The temporal change of embodied CO₂ emissions in the Russia-China trade was examined using a multiregional input-output model. Results revealed that Russia had a large amount of net embodied CO₂ emissions owing to its trade with China at the country level, which increased from 1405.03 Mt in 2000 to 500.61 Mt in 2014. The top five sectors of embodied CO₂ emissions in exports from Russia to China are the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products, production of basic metals, production of chemicals and chemical products, electricity and gas, and mining and quarrying. Besides, the two sectors, the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum, and mining and quarrying, contribute to embodied CO₂ emissions in per unit exports significantly due to their high energy intensities. Conversely, the emission embodied values in unit export are relatively small for basic metals, electricity and gas, and chemicals and chemical products because of their relatively low energy intensities. Furthermore, by decomposing carbon terms of trade using structural decomposition analysis, the results reveal that the main reason for the increase in embodied CO₂ emissions in Russia’s exports to China is the increase in the scale of exports. The intensity effect has weak restraints on the increase of embodied CO₂ emissions in exports of coke and refined petroleum products, and mining and quarrying sectors, while strong restraints exist in electricity and gas, manufacturing of chemical products, and basic metals sectors. Accordingly, our findings have practical significance and propose targeted policies to reduce embodied CO₂ emissions.