[Objective] The aims of this study are to investigate the spatial distribution of soil CO2 emission in the Yangtze River Delta region, the responses to topography, soil and meteorology factors, and the contributions of environmental factors to soil CO2 emission. [Methods] Based on the 1km resolution soil CO2 emission products from 2000 to 2014 in the Yangtze River Delta, this study calculated the multi-year mean value and variation coefficient of soil CO2 emission per pixel, studied the variation of soil CO2 emission under different environmental factors, and finally calculated the contributions of topography, soil and meteorology factors to soil CO2 emission based on geodetector. [Results] (1) There were obvious spatial differences in soil CO2 emission in the Yangtze River Delta region, with relatively uniform distribution in the northern part and obvious spatial differences in the southern part; The variation of soil CO2 emission in eastern coastal areas of Zhejiang Province, central and western areas of Anhui Province, Nantong City and Shanghai city had fluctuated sharply over the years. (2) Soil CO? emission shows an increasing trend with rising elevation and soil organic carbon content, a decreasing trend with increasing temperature and soil bulk density, periodic fluctuations with increasing downward shortwave radiation, an initial increase followed by a decrease with rising evapotranspiration and soil moisture, and primarily a decrease followed by an increase with higher clay and silt content. (3) From the perspective of the entire Yangtze River Delta, organic carbon content contribute the most to soil CO? emission. In croplands and impervious surfaces, meteorological factors have the greatest influence on soil CO? emission, while in forestlands, organic carbon content contributes the most to soil CO? emission. [Conclusion] The spatial distribution of soil CO? emission varies significantly and exhibits strong temporal fluctuations, with soil organic carbon content having the greatest impact on soil CO? emission.