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How does a Chinese village achieve carbon neutrality?
CGTN

A low-carbon station has been built at the entrance of Fuxing Village. It has an ordinary cottage, a garden and some facilities. But it's its small size that has helped all of its residents learn what low carbon is and how to live a carbon-neutral life.

A solar street lamp in Fuxing Village, Xiaolan Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, south China, May 13, 2021. /CGTN

A solar street lamp in Fuxing Village, Xiaolan Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, south China, May 13, 2021. /CGTN

Sitting at the northwest periphery of Zhongshan City, south China's Guangdong Province, Xiaolan Town has implemented the low-carbon development for years now. The North District community, where Fuxing Village is located, is a good example of a net-zero carbon community in China.

The smart recycling bin in Fuxing Village, Xiaolan Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, south China, May 13, 2021. /CGTN

The smart recycling bin in Fuxing Village, Xiaolan Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, south China, May 13, 2021. /CGTN

Houses in the community have integrated solar power with building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). As the city gets plenty of sunlight every year, the rooftop photovoltaic power system generates enough electricity for each household, so much so that the excess can be sold to local power grid companies.

A rainwater harvesting system behind the Low-Carbon Station in Fuxing Village, Xiaolan Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, south China, May 13, 2021. /CGTN

A rainwater harvesting system behind the Low-Carbon Station in Fuxing Village, Xiaolan Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, south China, May 13, 2021. /CGTN

Other facilities such as a rainwater harvesting system and waste sorting can also be found in the village. Residents can also turn trash into cash in just a few minutes by using smart recycling bins.

A garden in Fuxing Village, Xiaolan Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, China, May 13, 2021. /CGTN

A garden in Fuxing Village, Xiaolan Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, China, May 13, 2021. /CGTN

Villagers in Fuxing also have their own garden to grow organic vegetables. Composting is a good way to deal with food waste and energize the soil. Residents there repurposed waste containers for use as compost bins by drilling a few spaced holes to allow air to circulate and placing layers of soil and kitchen scraps into the containers, which are kept seated on the ground. The magic takes place on its own.

A compost bin in Fuxing Village, Xiaolan Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, south China, May 13, 2021. /CGTN

A compost bin in Fuxing Village, Xiaolan Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, south China, May 13, 2021. /CGTN

At the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China aims to have carbon dioxide emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Xiaolan Town offers just a glimpse of what China is doing.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)

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