Low-carbon lifestyles gain extra credit

Editor's note: China Daily is publishing a series illustrating the country's efforts to achieve its carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals.

The low-carbon lifestyle is a daily norm for Wei Ying, a resident in the Hubei provincial capital of Wuhan. The 36-year-old, however, was surprised when her environmentally friendly actions, such as riding shared bikes instead of getting taxis and recycling her trash, contributed to a reduction in a bank loan.

On April 28, she offset 90 yuan ($12) from her monthly mortgage payment with 45,000 grams of carbon credits, making her, an employee of a State-owned company, the first resident in Wuhan to do so.

She earned the credits via Wutanjianghu, a mini program within WeChat launched in June 2023 by Wuhan Carbon Inclusion Management Co under the guidance of the Wuhan Ecology and Environment Bureau, which aims to incentivize Wuhan residents to lead low-carbon lifestyles.