Baotou strives to develop 'Zero Carbon Conference'

The on-site observation meeting of urban refined management in Inner Mongolia autonomous region was held in Baotou on Sept 16. The city is striving to create a "zero carbon conference" to provide demonstration samples for large-scale events across the region to achieve carbon neutrality.

"Zero Carbon Conference", also known as "Carbon Neutral Conference", refers to offsetting total greenhouse gas emissions directly or indirectly generated during the conference through afforestation, purchase of carbon allowances, carbon credits, carbon sinks, energy conservation and emission reduction, and meet the domestic standard carbon emission reduction quota so as to achieve the goal of zero net greenhouse gas emission.

During the preparation, holding and finishing stages of the observation meeting, a total of 15.75 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions were generated. The emissions were donated by the China Green Carbon Foundation within five years (form April 2023 to April 2028) after the end of the event. The generated carbon sinks have been fully offset to achieve carbon neutrality.

Baotou regards building a carbon-peak and carbon-neutral model city as a major strategy to fulfill its responsibilities as an industrial city and promote high-quality economic and social development. In March 2021, the city took the lead in building a carbon peak and carbon neutral forest and grass carbon sink (Baotou) pilot area in the country. It was identified as the first forest and grass carbon sink pilot in Inner Mongolia, and was named a "2021 Local Comprehensive Deepening Reform Model Case".