China’s　rapid　economic　development　has　initiated　the　deterioration　of　its　ecological　environment,　posing　a　threat　to　the　sustainable　development　of　human　society.　As　a　result,　an　assessment　of　regional　sustainability　is　critical.　This　paper　researches　China’s　most　forested　province,　Fujian　Province,　as　the　study　area.　We　proposed　a　grid-based　approach　to　assess　the　regional　carbon　footprint　in　accordance　with　the　Intergovernmental　Panel　on　Climate　Change’s　(IPCC)　carbon　emission　guidelines.　Our　method　of　assessment　also　introduced　carbon　emission　indicators　with　our　improved　and　published　Net　Primary　Production　(NPP)　based　on　process　simulation.　The　carbon　footprint　in　Fujian　Province　from　2005–2017　was　calculated　and　examined　from　a　spatiotemporal　perspective.　Ecological　indicators　were　used　in　the　sustainability　assessment.　The　research　draws　the　following　conclusions:　1)　the　carbon　footprint　in　the　eastern　regions　of　Fujian　Province　was　higher　due　to　rapid　economic　development;　2)　that　of　the　western　regions　was　lower;　3)　an　uptrend　in　the　carbon　footprint　of　Fujian　Province　was　observed.　All　five　ecological　indicators　based　on　carbon　emissions　and　economic　and　social　data　showed　an　ecologically　unsustainable　trend　over　13　years　in　the　research　area　due　to　unsustainable　economic　development.　Therefore,　it　is　urgent　to　balance　the　relationship　between　economic　development　and　environmental　protection.　Our　research　provides　scientific　references　for　achieving　ecological　civilization　and　sustainability　in　a　similar　region.　©　2020,　Higher　Education　Press.