Actively explore the near zero carbon development model! Release of the Implementation Plan for the Demonstration and Creation of Near Zero Carbon Cities, Near

Source: IESPlaza Integrated Energy Services Network

On July 6th, the Shandong Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment issued the "Implementation Plan for Demonstration and Creation of Near Zero Carbon Cities, Near Zero Carbon Parks, and Near Zero Carbon Communities in Shandong Province".

The Plan clearly states:

Taking counties (cities, districts), parks, and communities with good low-carbon work foundation and significant emission reduction potential as breakthroughs, we will carry out near zero carbon demonstration creation. Explore the typical model and Critical path method of near zero carbon development, promote the synergy of pollution reduction and carbon reduction, and serve and promote the construction of green, low-carbon and high-quality development pilot areas. By 2025, build a batch of near zero carbon cities, near zero carbon parks, and near zero carbon communities, and summarize and form replicable and promotable experiences in near zero carbon development.

The original text is as follows:

Notice of the Shandong Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment on Issuing the Implementation Plan for the Demonstration and Creation of Near Zero Carbon Cities, Near Zero Carbon Parks, and Near Zero Carbon Communities in Shandong Province

Lu Huanfa [2023] No. 16

To the ecological and environmental bureaus of each city:

We hereby issue the Implementation Plan for the Demonstration and Creation of Near Zero Carbon Cities, Near Zero Carbon Parks, and Near Zero Carbon Communities in Shandong Province to you. Please carefully organize and implement it based on actual conditions.

Shandong Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment

July 6, 2023

Implementation Plan for Demonstration and Creation of Near Zero Carbon Cities, Near Zero Carbon Parks, and Near Zero Carbon Communities in Shandong Province

In order to actively explore the near zero carbon development model, promote near zero carbon construction, and improve the level of green and low-carbon development, in accordance with the requirements of the "Implementation Opinions of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on Supporting Shandong to Deepen the Conversion of New and Old Energy to Promote Green, Low, Carbon, and High Quality Development" (Huan Zong [2022] No. 65) and the "Three Year Action Plan for Building a Green, Low, Carbon, and High Quality Development Pilot Zone in Shandong Province (2023-2025)" (Lu Fa [2022] No. 19) and other documents, Develop this plan.

1、 Overall requirements

  Explore the typical model and Critical path method of near zero carbon development, promote the synergy of pollution reduction and carbon reduction, and serve and promote the construction of green, low-carbon and high-quality development pilot areas. By 2025, build a batch of near zero carbon cities, near zero carbon parks, and near zero carbon communities, and summarize and form replicable and promotable experiences in near zero carbon development.

2、 Declaration scope

（1） Declaration subject

The construction of near zero carbon cities, parks, and communities refers to the development goal of near zero carbon emissions within the scope of cities, parks, and communities. During the carbon peak stage, through comprehensive planning and the use of low-carbon management mechanisms, low-carbon development in energy, industry, construction, transportation, and other fields is promoted. The use of energy-saving technologies is actively promoted, low-carbon living is advocated, and the focus is on economic development to break free from the constraints of high carbon investment, Explore the experience of green and low-carbon transformation and development, and collaborate to promote high-quality economic and social development and high-level protection of the ecological environment.

The application objects for near zero carbon cities are the entire county (city, district), and the people's government of the county (city, district) where they are located serves as the application subject. The application objects for near zero carbon parks are provincial-level or above parks (including high-tech industrial development zones, economic and technological development zones, industrial parks, industrial parks, economic development zones, high-tech industrial parks, chemical parks, etc.), with the park management committee as the application subject. The application objects of near zero carbon communities are urban communities, rural administrative villages, etc., and the Residents'committee (Villagers' committee) is the application subject.

In principle, the number of applications per city should not exceed 1 county (city, district), 2 parks, and 3 communities. The total number of declarations in the province shall be controlled.

（2） Basic conditions for declaration

The declared object should have clear regional boundaries; Having a certain foundation for low-carbon development and clear goals for near zero carbon development; The working mechanism for the creation, operation, and management of near zero carbon demonstration is sound and effective; Organize the preparation of demonstration creation plans and officially release them for implementation. In the past three years, key emission units that have been included in the carbon market in the region have not fulfilled their obligations, have falsified carbon emission data, committed criminal cases of serious environmental pollution, and have experienced major or major environmental emergencies or ecological damage events. They are not allowed to participate in the demonstration creation application.

3、 Implementation steps

（1） Demonstration creation application stage (from the date of plan release to October 31, 2023)

1. Organize declaration. County (city, district), park, and community that are willing and meet the conditions can submit a demonstration creation application to the local ecological environment bureau and submit the "Shandong Province Near Zero Carbon Demonstration Creation Application Form" (refer to Annex 4). The Municipal Ecological Environment Bureau recommends and submits the application list to the Provincial Ecological Environment Department. The applicant unit shall prepare the "Demonstration Creation Plan" (refer to Attachment 2) and research report (refer to Attachment 3) by itself or entrust a professional institution, which shall be preliminarily reviewed by the Municipal Ecological Environment Bureau and submitted to the Provincial Department of Ecological Environment.

2. Review and screening. The Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment organized experts to review the applied demonstration creation plan and research report, and selected a group of distinctive and valuable demonstration creation application subjects for replication and promotion.

3. Social publicity. The Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment will publicly announce the demonstration creation applicants who have passed the expert evaluation, with a public notice period of 5 working days. After passing the public notice, they will be officially determined as near zero carbon demonstration creation cities/parks/communities.

（2） Construction Implementation Phase (November 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025)

1. Demonstration construction. The applicant should strictly implement the demonstration creation task and ensure that the demonstration creation work is completed within the construction period. The Municipal Ecological Environment Bureau should strengthen process tracking and coordinate to solve the problems that exist in the demonstration creation process.

2. Acceptance naming. After completing the demonstration creation task, achieving all constraint indicators and more than 70% of reference indicators (at least 10, 8, and 5 reference indicators for near zero carbon cities, parks, and communities, respectively), the construction entity submits an acceptance application to the Municipal Ecological Environment Bureau and a self-assessment report. The Municipal Ecological Environment Bureau shall apply for acceptance by the Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, and the Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment shall organize experts to conduct data review and on-site verification. For those who have passed the acceptance inspection, they will be awarded the titles of "Near Zero Carbon City in Shandong Province", "Near Zero Carbon Park in Shandong Province", and "Near Zero Carbon Community in Shandong Province".

（3） Summary and Improvement Phase (January 1 to April 30, 2026)

1. Summarize and evaluate. Summarize the experience of demonstration creation, carry out the analysis of the typical model and Critical path method of near zero carbon development, revise the standards of near zero carbon construction, and improve the procedures of near zero carbon construction. Hold experience exchange meetings to promote excellent experience and practices, guide more counties (cities, districts), parks, and communities to establish near zero carbon emission targets, actively carry out near zero carbon construction, and expand the influence of demonstration and creation achievements.

2. Management review. Create demonstration activities to implement dynamic supervision and management, and the Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment will conduct spot checks based on the situation. Cancellation of titles for those with poor implementation results and management deficiencies.

4、 Safeguard measures

（1） Establish a working mechanism. The Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment is responsible for coordinating and guiding the creation of near zero carbon demonstration projects in the province; The ecological and environmental bureaus of each city are responsible for promoting the demonstration and creation of their own city, clarifying the division of responsibilities, implementing relevant policies, encouraging the application of near zero carbon demonstration and creation, and promoting project implementation.

（2） Coordinate financial support. Encourage cities to strengthen financial coordination in the field of ecological and environmental protection, and actively support the creation of near zero carbon demonstration. Fully leverage the role of green finance and climate investment and financing, and guide social capital to participate in near zero carbon construction.

（3） Strengthen capacity building. The Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment is responsible for establishing an expert team, organizing the selection, evaluation, and acceptance of demonstration projects, and providing corresponding technical guidance during the construction period of demonstration projects. Regularly organize technical training around carbon emission statistics and accounting, low-carbon development, and pollution reduction and carbon reduction technologies.

（4） Strengthen publicity and promotion. Intensify the promotion of near zero carbon demonstration creation, utilize various media platforms to showcase the effectiveness of demonstration creation, and guide the public towards a low-carbon life. Utilize activities such as World Environment Day and National Low Carbon Day to promote advanced experiences and typical practices in creating near zero carbon demonstration.