Xinhua Silk Road: Green economy drives quality progress in E.China's Anji county

BEIJING,Aug. 15,2023 -- Anji county of east China's Zhejiang province has explored a path of green development through scientific and technological innovation and taken concrete steps to foster green,low-carbon,high-quality development.

Photo provided shows night views in Anji county.

In the past five years,Anji rejected 150 environmental unfriendly and unqualified projects,which translated into a loss in GDP.

The county is stressing a balance between economic development and environmental protection. Green development is staged in agriculture and tourism. Over the years,Anji vigorously develops the whole bamboo deep processing industry. Bamboo resources get maximized utilization there,and bamboo tableware,bamboo film bags,bamboo straws are exported to overseas.

Digital tea plantation has achieved white teaproduction whole process dynamic supervision. A group of young people returning to their hometown have brought machinery,technology and digital management to Anji.

Today's Anji is a scenic area,and its economic restructuringhas paid off and led a takeoff of its tourism.

Guided by the philosophy of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," local enterprises in Anji also make the green economy a top priority. NaaS,one of China's largest EV charging service providers,has achieved both ecological and economic benefits since it settled down in Anji. The enterprise reduced carbon emissions by 1,847,700 tonnes in 2022,a year-on-year improvement of 106.22 percent. In the first quarter of 2023,the company saw its total power recharging service transactions rose 107 percent year on year to reach 990 million yuan.

Known as the hometown of bamboo in China,Anji has huge area of bamboo forests. Bamboo is considered as an effective carbon sink and important nature-based approach to mitigating global warming. One mu (around 0.06 hectares) of bamboo is able to absorb about 24.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year,and by selling these carbon sinks,the air in the bamboo forest becomes real money.

Based on these findings,Anji set up a trading platform that allows enterprises and farmers to redeem rewards for planting bamboo in late 2021. Residents in Anji can both enjoy the environmental value and reap the economic benefits.

Up to now,the county has set up 119 bamboo cooperatives,a cumulative of 25,000 tonnes forest carbon sinks were transacted,with transaction amounting 1,720,000 yuan,it is expected to increase 6,751 yuan average income of peasant households.

Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/335596.html