The Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone's pilot program for carbon credits for manufacturers in the area – located in Hefei, capital of East China's Anhui province – was recognized on July 7 as one of 20 model examples of ecological and environment governance in China.

The pilot program, the first of its kind in the country, was launched on March 14. It aims to promote green and low-carbon transformation in key industries and enterprises within the zone.

The Hefei high-tech zone has made efforts to optimize its structure and improve its efficiency by constructing a comprehensive evaluations system.

This system includes 40 green index markers in areas such as pollution reductions, energy utilization, resource utilization and green technology.

As a result, the proportion of renewable energy in the zone has been increased – with a focus on developing industries related to solar power, new materials, new energy vehicles, energy conservation and environmental protection.

Currently the Hefei high-tech zone is home to over 500 new energy, energy conservation and environmental protection enterprises, with a total output value of nearly 145 billion yuan ($20.17 billion) in 2022.

Moreover, the zone has implemented a green transformation in industries such as home appliances, automobiles, new materials and biomedicines.

It has established a big data platform for pollution reductions, carbon reductions and smart energy – paving the way for the creation of zero-carbon factories and zero-carbon workshops.