A port in Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat account: huzhoufabu]

Huzhou in East China's Zhejiang province has been chosen as one of the initial national carbon peak pilot cities, according to a recent announcement made by the National Development and Reform Commission. Huzhou is one of two cities in Zhejiang included in the pilot program.

In support of the country's goal to reach peak emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, Huzhou has been actively working to reduce carbon emissions in recent years. The city has implemented a plethora of innovative decarbonization practices in sectors such as energy, construction, transportation, and agriculture, as well as residents' daily lives.

One notable practice is the establishment of a trading platform in Anji county, where enterprises and farmers can receive rewards for planting bamboo. Bamboo is recognized as an effective carbon sink and a nature-based approach to combating global warming. This platform, the first of its kind in a county in China, has already facilitated transactions for storing 25,000 metric tons of carbon from bamboo and its products.

Meanwhile, Huzhou has introduced a system to assess the energy consumption efficiency and carbon emissions of companies. This system categorizes companies in high energy consumption sectors like metal smelting and textiles, based on their carbon emissions and output value. By scanning a QR code, companies can determine their classification into one of five grades. This system, the first in China, has been adopted by over 90,000 enterprises in Zhejiang province.

Huzhou has also pioneered the nation's first system for evaluating the energy consumption efficiency and carbon emissions of public buildings. Moreover, the city has actively promoted the use of clean energy. For instance, a 35-kilometer conveyor belt, powered entirely by electricity, now transports cement clinkers through the mountains in Meishan town, Changxing county. This cross-provincial logistics project reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 8,566.8 tons annually.

Additionally, Huzhou has been actively working towards replacing diesel with electricity in port operations. Huzhou's achievements in green port development were highlighted in a documentary that aired at COP26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2021.

To encourage participation in the decarbonization campaign, Huzhou has implemented favorable policies for both enterprises and individuals. Car owners who drive less can receive discounts on their car premiums, while enterprises engaged in green manufacturing can apply for loan interest reductions.