On March 12, 2021, Arbor Day, the Guangzhou Carbon Emissions Exchange released the Carbon Neutrality Report (2021). It is reported that this is the first comprehensive sorting out and study of carbon neutral cases nationwide.
According to the research report, 136 countries around the world have proposed carbon neutrality targets, covering more than 88% of global carbon dioxide emissions, accounting for more than 90% of the world's economic scale, and nearly 683 companies have proposed near-zero emission targets, and carbon neutrality has become a global consensus.
According to the relevant person in charge of the Guangdong Carbon Institute, the release of this report aims to focus on the analysis of the specific implementation, main body, core elements, etc. of various carbon neutral scenarios, hoping to better promote scientific carbon neutrality practice. "Based on the carbon neutrality model of different scenarios, the report analyzes the specific situation of organizations, activities and products that achieve carbon neutral certification in 2021 based on publicly available data, and further explores the current situation and problems of different institutions in carbon neutral information disclosure, so as to propose corresponding countermeasures and suggestions for policymakers and participants."
The cumulative carbon neutrality of various entities in the mainland will exceed 2.274 million tons in 2021, contributing to the continent's dual-carbon target.
Generally speaking, carbon neutrality refers to the behavior of carbon neutrality through direct emission reduction or indirect purchase of carbon offset credits outside the carbon emission accounting boundary within specific boundaries and time periods for specific objects such as organizations, activities, products or services.
Since the announcement of the "double carbon" target on the mainland, carbon neutrality actions in all areas of society have accelerated. The report collects public cases of "carbon neutrality" certificates in China between January 1 and December 31, 2021. The data shows that a total of 152 cases were certified carbon neutral during 2021, including 92 organizations, 52 activities, and 8 products and services. According to incomplete statistics, the reported statistical cases achieved a total of more than 2.274 million tons of emission neutralization in 2021, of which organizations offset 145,900 tons, activities offset 2,007,500 tons, and products and services offset 120,800 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Guangdong financial institutions are enthusiastic about carbon neutral action
The report found that enterprises in various industries have carried out different degrees of exploration and information disclosure in the process of carbon neutrality, and compared with other industries, financial institutions are currently more active and are in a leading position in terms of the number of certifications and the scope of carbon emission accounting. In 2021, a total of 24 banks in Guangdong Province obtained "carbon neutrality" certificates, accounting for 50% of the carbon neutral cases collected by financial institutions, setting an example for financial institutions to lead the national carbon neutrality cause.
In addition, in 2021, a total of 15 production-oriented enterprises have obtained the "carbon neutrality" certification of enterprises, which belong to different industries such as power grids, furniture, electrical appliances, energy, automobiles, materials, automation, biopharmaceuticals, intelligent IoT, and data technology, all of which provide useful exploration for enterprises in various industries to carry out carbon neutrality.
The Carbon Neutral Winter Olympics became the benchmark for carbon neutrality for large-scale events around the world
According to the "Beijing Winter Olympics Low Carbon Management Report (Pre-Competition)" released by the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee in January 2022, the Beijing Winter Olympics was awarded the "Greenhouse Gas Verification Statement" issued by the verification agency with the qualification of the United Nations Designated Operating Entity (DOE) on December 31, 2021, and the Beijing Winter Olympics successfully fulfilled its commitment to achieve "carbon neutrality" and became the first "carbon neutral" Winter Olympics so far. It is reported that the Beijing Winter Olympics has actively carried out carbon reduction program planning since the beginning of the preparation, and the Beijing Winter Olympics have pioneered the inclusion of the main greenhouse gas emissions related to the activities related to the preparation of the Beijing Winter Olympics, geographical boundaries and activities that can exert influence, including the preparation and operation process, venues and transportation facilities, and 200 emission sources in the audience in 3 and their subcategories. The Winter Olympics will comprehensively promote the construction of low-carbon projects, fully apply low-carbon technologies, reduce benchmark emissions through low-carbon energy utilization of photovoltaic and wind power generation, low-carbon venue construction, low-carbon transportation, low-carbon offices and other low-carbon management measures。 Finally, carbon offsetting was achieved through the combination of local donations to forestry carbon sinks and corporate sponsorship of certified carbon emission reductions, and finally carbon neutrality was achieved, completing this unprecedented feat and becoming a benchmark for carbon neutrality practices in large-scale global events.
According to the report, among the 54 activities that were awarded the "carbon neutrality" certificate in 2021, including 24 educational and scientific activities, 15 exhibitions and business activities, 6 sports activities, 5 cultural celebrations and 2 government meetings, carbon neutrality has become the "standard" for large-scale activities.
Carbon-neutral products and services are still in the initial exploratory phase
The report collects fewer cases of carbon neutral certification of products or services, mainly involving health care products, oil, clothing and paper, and services involving flights and tankers, all of which are closer to consumer categories. Since the carbon emission management of products and services usually involves full-life cycle management, there are fewer reference emission factors, which is difficult to calculate and costly. But industries are trying to develop carbon-neutral products to meet the needs of green consumption and corporate social responsibility.
The road to carbon neutrality is a long way off
2021 is the first year of the mainland's "14th Five-Year Plan" and the first year of the mainland's journey of "carbon neutrality". Driven by the demonstration of carbon neutrality applications, the carbon emission management ability of social subjects has been significantly improved, the concept of carbon neutrality has been widely popularized, and a new social trend of pride in carbon reduction has risen.
The report points out that there are still obvious deficiencies in carbon neutrality behavior in terms of data base, carbon reduction measures, offset product system construction, standard construction, information disclosure and tracking and deposition, which hinder the further promotion and sustainable development of carbon neutrality in the whole society.
In view of the above problems, the report also puts forward six major suggestions: First, start the construction of carbon emission factor libraries to consolidate the carbon emission data foundation. Second, vigorously advocate carbon reduction first, and promote social subjects to effectively reduce carbon. Third, accelerate the standardization and improvement of the carbon offset product system, and promote the reduction of emissions in the whole society with carbon neutral actions。 Fourth, strengthen the construction of standards and norms for the whole process of carbon neutrality implementation, and standardize carbon neutral behavior. V. Promote the establishment of a unified carbon neutrality registration platform and establish a standardized carbon neutral information disclosure system.
The relevant person in charge of the Guangdong Carbon Institute introduced: "The realization of the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality has a long way to go, and it is urgent to make concerted efforts from all walks of life. All social actors must deal with this major strategic issue, play an active role, take the initiative to fulfill their social responsibilities, incorporate carbon neutrality goals into their long-term development strategies, accelerate the pace of green transformation, strengthen the innovation and application of emission reduction technologies, actively carry out carbon neutral innovation demonstrations, and promote their own and upstream and downstream emission reduction measures. ”
On the day of the release of the report, The Institute of Carbon Released its 2021 Carbon Neutrality Implementation Report, announcing that it will achieve carbon neutrality in 2021 operational emissions. "This carbon neutrality implementation is the first step in the carbon neutrality goal practiced by Guang carbon, and in the future, we will reduce carbon emissions through practical measures such as purchasing renewable energy, green office, and low-carbon transportation, and strive to control carbon emissions to a minimum level from 2035, while continuing to promote business innovation and service optimization around carbon neutral comprehensive services, helping member customers reduce emissions and reduce carbon, and actively deploying a carbon neutral data support system and carbon neutral registration platform to help the whole society achieve the double carbon goal." The relevant person in charge of the Guang carbon institute was introduced.