Abstract:

The zero-carbon park goes beyond simple energy substitution, directly transforming the cost advantages of green energy into competitive edge for green industries, turning "carbon liabilities" into "green assets," and paving a brand-new path toward deep decarbonization in global manufacturing.  

 

As 2025 begins, China has taken another crucial step forward in advancing its "Dual Carbon" goals.

 

A notable milestone is that, since 2021 when Farvision Energy Group partnered with the Ordos government in Inner Mongolia to pioneeringly establish the world’s first zero-carbon industrial park, the construction of "zero-carbon parks" has rapidly evolved—from localized pilot projects and spontaneous corporate initiatives—to a top-level national strategy and systematic deployment.

 

Since the concept was first introduced at the 2024 Central Economic Work Conference, it was explicitly incorporated into the Government Work Report in 2025—and now, in the first half of 2025, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the National Energy Administration have jointly issued the "Notice on Launching Zero-Carbon Park Construction." This series of initiatives underscores that zero-carbon parks have become a key strategic lever for China to achieve a comprehensive green transformation of its economy and society, build a modernized industrial system, and tackle the global challenge of climate change.

 

As the strategic importance of zero-carbon parks continues to rise, they have also garnered widespread media attention. Recently, authoritative outlets such as CCTV and the People's Daily have enthusiastically praised and extensively reported on these pioneering zero-carbon initiatives.

 

For example, on August 27, the People's Daily published an article titled "Zero-Carbon Park: The 'Three-Step Approach' to Carbon Reduction." The article highlights the experiences of Inner Mongolia and Jiangsu in building zero-carbon parks, with a special focus on the Ordos Zero-Carbon Industrial Park and the Dafeng Port Zero-Carbon Industrial Park in Yancheng, Jiangsu. It explores how these parks leverage locally available green energy resources to accelerate the transformation of their energy consumption structures, optimize industrial layouts, and enhance the "green competitiveness" of their industries. Additionally, the report underscores the innovative use of artificial intelligence technologies to elevate management efficiency and foster a virtuous cycle: "Green energy attracts green industries, while green industries, in turn, help absorb and utilize green energy effectively."

 

 

 

 

On August 20, the fifth episode of "Xi Jinping's Thought on Ecological Civilization: A Series of Lectures," titled "Green Development Is a Profound Revolution in Our Development Philosophy," aired on CCTV-1. As a representative of China’s zero-carbon industry under the country’s “Dual Carbon” commitment, it detailed the significant importance of Envision Ordos Zero-Carbon Industrial Park—the world’s first truly operational industrial park that has achieved zero carbon emissions. Additionally, it highlighted how the zero-carbon industrial park, serving as a key initiative for China to meet its “Dual Carbon” goals, has now evolved from local-level practices into a nationwide action plan.

 

On August 19, the second episode of "Green Engine," titled "Chasing Dreams Amid Mountains and Waters," aired on CCTV's Science and Education Channel. Taking the city of Ordos in Inner Mongolia as a case study, this analysis explores how this energy powerhouse—whose coal production accounts for one-sixth and natural gas output for one-eighth of the national total—can shed its image as a "charcoal seller" and embark on a green transformation. The key lies within its zero-carbon industrial park.

 

Caption: CCTV's program "Chasing Dreams Amid Mountains and Waters" praises the Ordos Zero-Carbon Industrial Park.

 

Ordos is the birthplace of the world’s first zero-carbon industrial park. On April 5 this year, the People’s Daily even visited the Ordos Zero-Carbon Industrial Park, publishing an article titled "How Is Zero-Carbon Production Achieved?" It details how the Ordos Zero-Carbon Industrial Park is pioneering a green, high-quality development path through innovative approaches such as renewable energy utilization, intelligent management, and the establishment of a sustainable green industrial chain.

 

The Ordos Zero-Carbon Industrial Park has also become a sacred place for industry professionals to visit and learn from. In October 2024, a delegation including foreign members and specially invited advisors from the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development traveled to Ordos for an inspection and research visit. After touring the Zero-Carbon Industrial Park, Sangasuren Oyun, former specially invited advisor to the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development, remarked that if the world could witness China’s transition toward clean energy and its shift toward more environmentally friendly development models, China would provide invaluable lessons for other developing nations—and also inspire significant global insights.

 

In late July this year, the National Training Workshop on Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality for 2025, along with the National On-site Conference for Carbon Peak Pilot Projects, was held in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Leaders from the development and reform systems of all provinces (regions, and municipalities) across the country, as well as representatives from relevant pilot units, attended the event. One of the key training components included on-site visits to national carbon peak pilot projects, such as the Ordos Zero-Carbon Industrial Park.

 

Starting from Ordos, stretching from the western Gobi Desert to the eastern coastal regions, zero-carbon parks are becoming a powerful engine driving regional industrial upgrades and fostering a low-carbon ripple effect—offering the world a replicable Chinese model.

 

Why has the zero-carbon park risen to become a national strategy? What groundbreaking significance does it hold? And what insights does it offer for the transformation and upgrading of the zero-carbon industry?

 

 

Source: National Development and Reform Commission

 

 

01

Local areas compete to seize the new engine of the green economy

 

A zero-carbon park refers to a development zone where, through planning, design, technology, and management strategies, carbon dioxide emissions from production and daily activities are reduced to "near-zero" levels—and which is equipped with the capacity to further achieve "net-zero" conditions.

 

China views the development of zero-carbon parks as a key vehicle for achieving its "dual carbon" goals. Following strategic positioning and deployment at the central level, the National Development and Reform Commission is now organizing provinces and cities to submit applications for "national-level zero-carbon parks." According to the timeline, August 22nd is the final deadline for submissions.

 

According to media reports, the first batch of zero-carbon park applications for 2025 has sparked fierce competition. Although the NDRC announced that each province and city can submit no more than two projects, it is expected that nearly 100 projects will be submitted nationwide.

 

The designation "National Zero-Carbon Park" has quickly become a highly sought-after "hot commodity" that governments and industrial parks across the board are eager to secure. A regional economic and industrial transformation race, fueled by zero-carbon parks as its driving force, is set to unlock trillions in investment.

 

Policy benefits spur responses across many regions, as local governments纷纷 roll out supporting measures to advance zero-carbon park development.

 

Sichuan announces the pilot list of zero-carbon industrial parks for 2025; Yunnan launches the third batch of provincial-level zero-carbon park construction initiatives; Jiangsu Province provides a one-time reward of 20 million yuan to parks that pass the review by central ministries and commissions, while also prioritizing the allocation of additional renewable energy quotas; Guangdong Province introduces a "Carbon Neutrality Loan + Carbon Reduction Subsidy" package, offering loan interest rate reductions of 30–50 basis points, with provincial finance providing a subsidy of 20 yuan per ton of actual carbon reduction achieved. ₂ e Interest subsidies; Shanghai, meanwhile, has included zero-carbon park projects in the REITs pilot program…

 

These policies—ranging from financial support and preferential financing to pilot program eligibility—have provided a strong impetus for the park to apply for the zero-carbon demonstration initiative.

 

The zero-carbon park itself is a massive emerging market, encompassing numerous sectors such as green energy, energy storage, smart energy management, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), as well as the circular economy.

 

As of the end of March 2025, the number of nationally approved and ongoing zero-carbon park projects has surpassed 100, with a total investment reaching 127.2 billion RMB, spanning across 27 provinces nationwide.

 

In 2024, the total number of major projects announced across 26 provinces and cities has exceeded 19,000. Among these, projects in the dual-carbon and environmental protection sectors have attracted a total investment exceeding 30 trillion yuan, with planned investments for 2024 alone surpassing 6 trillion yuan.

 

Notably, among the provinces that have announced their investment plans, nearly 14 regions have included dual-carbon industrial park projects in their lists of key or major investment initiatives for 2024, totaling 104 projects. This highlights that the development of zero-carbon parks is thriving and has become a new hotspot for investment.

 

This massive investment not only directly boosts economic growth, but more importantly, it has fostered a group of green technology enterprises with core competitiveness, as well as a complete green industry chain.

 

Zero-carbon parks are emerging as a new engine for nurturing green technologies, promoting eco-friendly products, and bolstering the green industry. They provide a valuable testing ground for the commercialization of cutting-edge technologies such as hydrogen energy, next-generation energy storage, and carbon capture.

 

For instance, the Yuanjing Inner Mongolia Chifeng Zero-Carbon Hydrogen Industry Park is actively exploring the application of green hydrogen in areas such as industrial fuels, chemical raw materials, and transportation.

 

For example, Hebei Iron and Steel Group’s hydrogen metallurgy demonstration project in Zhangjiakou not only uses hydrogen energy to replace coke in ironmaking, significantly cutting carbon emissions, but also incorporates carbon dioxide capture technology, enabling the annual recovery of about 60,000 tons of CO₂.

 

In industries like cement and chemicals, where complete decarbonization remains challenging, CCUS serves as the last line of defense for achieving net-zero emissions. By strategically concentrating these initiatives within zero-carbon parks, it becomes possible to reduce the capital and operational costs of CCUS infrastructure, thereby accelerating the large-scale deployment of this technology.

 

 

02

The zero-carbon park is the ideal platform for both the energy revolution and the new industrial revolution.

 

Energy security is at the core of national strategy. China's energy demand is growing steadily, and its reliance on fossil fuels has become a critical bottleneck.

 

The zero-carbon park drives the transition from traditional energy to renewable energy through energy substitution, serving as a key initiative to accelerate the development of a new energy system.

 

The specific pathways include: developing green electricity direct supply tailored to local conditions, as well as models like nearby integration of new energy sources, significantly boosting the share of non-fossil energy consumption; and leveraging biomass energy, green hydrogen and ammonia, geothermal resources, and other alternatives to fossil fuels, thereby achieving clean, low-carbon heating systems.

 

This can ease the burden on the power grid, reduce reliance on external grids and minimize losses from long-distance transmission, while promoting local consumption of renewable energy and boosting the region's energy self-sufficiency.

 

For example, in regions with abundant resource endowments, zero-carbon parks can compel high-energy-consuming industries such as steel and cement to undergo transformation, while also exploring technologies like green electricity-based hydrogen production.

 

However, zero-carbon parks go beyond simple energy substitution, directly transforming the cost advantages of green energy into competitive edges for green industries, shifting from "carbon liabilities" to "green assets," and paving a brand-new path toward deep decarbonization in global manufacturing.

 

The zero-carbon park has established stringent energy consumption and carbon emission standards, creating a powerful "reverse-driving mechanism."

 

For example, the "National-Level Zero-Carbon Park Construction Indicator System (Trial)," jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission and two other ministries, clearly identifies "carbon emissions per unit of energy consumption" as a core mandatory indicator. It stipulates that parks with annual comprehensive energy consumption ranging from 200,000 to 1 million tons of standard coal must keep this indicator at or below 0.2 tons of CO₂ per ton of standard coal.

 

 

Source: National Development and Reform Commission

 

This high standard compels the park, when attracting investments, to prioritize strategically emerging industries and future-oriented sectors that feature low energy consumption, low emissions, and high added value—while gradually phasing out outdated, high-carbon production capacities.

 

Meanwhile, existing enterprises within the park have no choice but to invest heavily in energy-saving renovations, process innovations, and technological upgrades in order to survive and thrive. This, in essence, is accelerating China's industrial "metabolism" and its modernization process.

 

Therefore, the nation's vigorous promotion of zero-carbon park development represents a strategic intersection of the dual-carbon goals, the new industrial system, and energy transition. If demonstration projects and standardized frameworks can make zero-carbon parks replicable and scalable, ultimately serving as a model for China’s new industrial system nationwide, this would significantly enhance our country’s green industrial competitiveness, strengthen our ability to tackle international "carbon barriers," and drive high-quality development.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Reference materials:

 

[1] People's Daily: Zero-Carbon Park, the "Three-Step Approach" to Carbon Reduction (Industry & Economy Watch)
 

[2]https://tv.cctv.com/2025/08/20/VIDE8lPj4CzqIIiQt1DixSBd250820.shtml

 

[3]https://tv.cctv.com/2025/08/19/VIDEZGBgCGgdZmtRqQWUl5pS250819.shtml?spm=C55953877151.PXXwefeHcOAR.0.0

 

[4] People's Daily: Exploring Ordos' Zero-Carbon Industrial Park—How Is Zero-Carbon Production Achieved?

 

[5] Farvision Energy Group: "From Manchester to Ordos"—Zhang Lei Delivers Speech at the Ordos Zero-Carbon Industry Summit

 

[6] Economic Daily: Momentum for Industrial Transformation and Development Remains Strong

 

[7] China Energy News: Multiple Regions Step Up Efforts to Build Zero-Carbon Parks

 

[8] National Development and Reform Commission website: A relevant official from the NDRC answers reporters' questions on the "Notice on Launching Zero-Carbon Park Construction"

Reposted from Global Zero Carbon