In order to further cope with climate change,China proposed to peak carbon dioxide emissions by about 2030. Carbon emissions peak target (CEPT) must result in a forcing mechanisms on China's economic transition. Forcing mechanism is one of conversely operating economic mechanisms which have been successfully implemented in China's economic reform and opening-up. It has important theoretical value for China's low-carbon transition and sustainable development in order to explore the basic theory in the forcing mechanisms of CEPT and study how to complete and use the new forcing mechanisms. According to the logic fromresearch on carbon emission history'toforecast of carbon emission',and fromresearch on paths of realizing peak'toresearch on peak constraint',this paper reviews the current status and development trend of studies on China's carbon emission and its peak value. Furthermore,the paper also reviews the basic theories and specific cases of the forcing mechanisms. The conclusions show that,firstly, existing studies have predicted the peak value of carbon emissions and the ways to achieve peak values in a straight forward way of thinking,but no literature has revealed the forcing mechanisms of the CEPT in an adverse way of thinking. Secondly,although the existing research puts forward the forcing mechanisms of CEPT,it is still a black-box theory. No literature have tried to open the black box and to reveal the basic characteristics and operating mechanism. Thirdly,the existing literature simulates the effects of the CEPT constraint on China's economy,but they do not systematically study the paths of economic transition in the forcing mechanisms of CEPT,and do not explore the emission reduction performance and economic effects of some policies and measures taken in the process of economic transition. Based on the existing achievements and development trends in this field,the following research directions that can be further expanded are put forward. Firstly,from the perspective of long-term strategy of sustainable development,we should analyze and construct the forcing mechanisms of CEPT in a reverse thinking way. Secondly,economic transition paths under the forcing mechanisms should be systematically studied. Thirdly,by constructing a large-scale policy evaluation model,the emission reduction performance and economic impact of a series of policy measures adopted during the transition process should be quantitatively evaluated.