The Ordos Institute of Carbon Neutrality was formally established in Ordos city in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Sept 7.

The institute is a scientific and technological innovation platform that will integrate technology R&D, the commercialization of scientific research achievements, business incubation and academic exchanges, among other endeavors.

It will mainly engage in the development of and services for carbon emission reductions, carbon conversions, carbon capture, carbon storage technology, and air pollution control and environmental protection.

The Ordos institute is said to be the first of its kind in Inner Mongolia, and its establishment comes in the wake of China's commitment to achieving peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060.

Ordos is one of the country's 14 large coal bases, nine large coal power bases and four modern coal chemicals demonstration bases.

The annual output of coal in the city currently tops 600 million metric tons, while its installed power capacity has reached 27 million kilowatts, and its coal chemicals production capacity stands at 17 million tons per annum.

It is understood that Ordos is committed to transforming itself into a national carbon neutral industry development demonstration city – and in so doing, contributing to the country's carbon peak and cargo neutrality targets.

To achieve these goals, Ordos acting mayor Du Huiliang declared at the institute's nameplate unveiling ceremony on Sept 7 that his city would strengthen the supply of green and low-carbon technologies, increase the momentum towards green and low-carbon industries, establish a green and low-carbon energy system, as well as improve the efficiency of green and low-carbon governance.

At the ceremony, Ordos announced it would appoint leading academicians as the municipal government's science and technology consultants, including Cheng Huiming, He Manchao, Guo Liejin and Ouyang Minggao, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). It also appointed academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Liu He and the dean of the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology at the CAS, Fan Jianping.

Another five academicians and professors from China's well-known institutes and universities have also been hired to work for the Ordos Institute of Carbon Neutrality and the Inner Mongolia Research Institute at the China University of Mining and Technology, to provide think-tank services for local high-quality economic development and technological innovation.

Additionally, another 11 cooperation projects were signed off at the ceremony – involving the development of sci-tech innovation platforms, the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements and personnel training.