Abstract: Plant and soil carbon stable isotope composition (δ¹³C) can reliably record environmental information, comprehensively reflect the physio-ecological characteristics of plants and biochemical carbon cycle processes, and provide useful information for understanding ecosystem carbon cycles. Thus, investigating the relationships between plant and soil δ¹³C and environmental factors can reveal the patterns and controlling factors of ecosystem carbon cycles, and the potential effects of climate change on ecosystems. In this study, the relationships between plant δ¹³C, soil δ¹³C and Δδ¹³C (the differences between plant and soil δ¹³C) and temperature, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, soil C/N ratio, soil texture and soil pH were reviewed. The δ¹³C of C₃ plant was negatively related to precipitation and atmospheric pressure, while the relationship between temperature and the δ¹³C of C₃ plant was complex. Only limited studies were available on C₄ plants, or mixed C₃/C₄ communities. Soil δ¹³C was negatively related to precipitation, soil C/N, soil clay and silt content, positively related to temperature, soil pH and soil sand content. However, the coupling effects of environmental factors suggest that the integrated effects of environmental factors on soil δ¹³C were worth further study. Although Δδ¹³C could comprehensively reflect this integrated effect, studies on the relationships between Δδ¹³C and environmental factors were limited, and the control factors of Δδ¹³C and influencing environmental mechanisms were unclear. Based on the deficiency of existing research, we suggest that measuring plant δ¹³C at both species and community levels, soil δ¹³C and Δδ¹³C simultaneously can more accurately reveal and predict the effects of environmental change on ecosystem carbon cycle, and this should be the focus of future research.