The Tarim Desert Highway, which traverses the Taklimakan Desert in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has been turned into a zero-carbon one. After the transformation project, shrubs along the highway are irrigated with the help of solar power-fueled pumps, instead of diesel ones.

The project is estimated to cut diesel consumption by about 1,000 tonnes and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 3,410 tonnes per year, according to PetroChina's Tarim oilfield branch. In addition, the shelterbelt can capture up to 20,000 tonnes of CO2, thus helping neutralize the CO2 emitted by passing vehicles.