Xi'an selected as pilot city for pollution and carbon reduction

Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, was selected as part of the first batch of national collaborative innovation pilot cities and industrial parks for pollution and carbon reduction, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

It is the only city to have been selected in the province. This pilot initiative will start in January 2024 and last for three years.

In recent years, Xi'an has given priority to ecological and green development. It has promoted pollution reduction and carbon reduction in several fields, including energy, industry, urban and rural construction, and transportation.

In the energy field, the city has carried out renovations for clean heating during winter, as well as accelerated renovations on waste incineration power generation and natural gas boilers. It also promoted the utilization of clean energy, such as solar energy and geothermal energy, according to local conditions.

All industrial enterprises above a designated size – those with annual output value of 20 million yuan ($2.79 million) or more – in the city use electricity or clean energy.

Regarding the industrial sector, efforts have been made to optimize the city's industrial structure, and promote the high-end, intelligent, and green development of the manufacturing sector. In 2022, the city's output of new energy vehicles reached 1.02 million, ranking first in the country.

In terms of urban and rural construction, the city has accelerated the construction of a zero-waste city.

In addition, Xi'an has formed a green transportation system, and its ecological environment has been improved.

Moving forwards, Xi'an will improve its working mechanism, refine work measures, and explore new high-quality development paths that prioritize ecology and green development. The city will also improve its collaborative governance for pollution and carbon reduction.