Energy consumption and efficiency are important in regional low-carbon economic development and environmental protection. This paper provides a system dynamics and fuzzy multi-objective programming integrated approach for the prediction of energy consumption and CO2 emissions at a regional level. First, a general system dynamics model is constructed to analyze an economy-energy system. To deal with the uncertainties and optimize the parameters in the system, a fuzzy multiple objective programming model is used. This decision support model is then applied to predict the energy consumption of a world heritage area in China during 2010-2020. The results reveal that the energy consumption and CO2 emissions increase dramatically with rapid economic growth. In the scenario herein considered, which is based on the proposed optimization model, a 1932% reduction was found in the energy intensity decreases from 0.88 tce/10(4) RMB to 0.71 tce/10(4) RMB, and a 23.26% reduction in the CO2 emission intensity, from 2.15 t/10(4) RMB to 1.65 t/10(4) RMB. Policy suggestions such as adjusting the industrial structure, enhancing local hydro-power and renewable energy and increasing investment in energy technology and efficiency are indicated for the promotion of a low-carbon oriented economy in world heritage areas. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.