Recently, Professor Fang Kai, a professor at the School of Public Affairs and vice director of the Environmental and Energy Policy Research Center (EEPC) at Zhejiang University, was interviewed by CGTN. In the interview, Professor Fang introduced that the “Bamboo carbon-sink” innovation in Zhejiang Anji plays a great role in China’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals; and that such new mode can be introduced to other cities in China.
Reporter: Why is Anji doing this? Why is this important?
Professor Fang: Well, I think Anji is perhaps one of the most famous bamboo hometowns in China. While bamboo has great ecological, economic and cultural value added, over the past years we see that the price of bamboo keeps going down. In some parts of Anji, the bamboo forests have been abandoned.
To revive bamboo industry, Anji has come up with an ambitious plan to transform its bamboo forests into tradable carbon sink, which is an effective way to achieve net-zero emissions. This plan is also a part of China’s efforts towards carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.
Reporter: Do you think there is any possibility that such an innovation can be introduced to other cities in China?
Professor Fang: Yes, for sure. The Ecological Bank in Anji plays an important role in “Bamboo carbon-sink” innovation. The right of bamboo management can be transferred from farmers to cooperatives—who can help farmers better manage their bamboo forests. By selling the carbon credits, there is a triple win. The factories have more carbon credits for production, the farmers increase their income, and the cooperatives get more financial supports.
The “Bamboo carbon-sink” mode can be introduced to other regions, particularly to those that have rich bamboo resources, like Jiangxi, Hunan, Anhui, Fujian. By doing so, the saying “Lush mountains are invaluable assets” is achieved.
Reference:
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-10-11/VHJhbnNjcmlwdDY4NzQ1/index.html
