Drivers targeted

Liu said the bureau, which is still in close contact with the local transportation authority and insurance companies, plans to introduce an incentive mechanism in the app to encourage vehicle owners to reduce the time they spend behind the wheel.

With access to data from the authority's traffic monitoring system, he said the app will verify if car owners have avoided using their vehicles, as claimed. In addition to points, owners will be spared insurance contributions on the days they don't drive.

In cooperation with Luzhou Bank, it is also planned to make users' carbon reduction contribution with the app a reference point to increase their credit lines, Liu said.

Xue Xiaoqin, the bank's vice-president, said, "It's our responsibility to contribute to the country's climate goals of peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and becoming carbon neutral before 2060."

The environmental bureau has received support from other government agencies in the city.

In May, the Luzhou government published a plan initiated by the bureau, which pinpoints 16 tasks for promoting the Lyuya app, including publicizing the app, along with financial support. Implementation of each task is designated to specific government bodies.

Zhao Xiaoqiong, a leading official with the bureau, said, "The document means that if we run into difficulties that go beyond our capability, the municipal government will come forward to help."

To include more opportunities to win points with the app, Zhao visited at least 10 government bodies and public institutions.

She said some government bodies have taken the initiative to approach the environmental bureau. For example, officials from Luzhou Intermediate People's Court visited the bureau, with the aim of cooperating via the app.

Zhao said she used to think that cooperation between the bureau and the bank would be hard to achieve, but such contact has produced "a collision of ideas" that may lead to more such opportunities.

She said one potential issue on which the court and bureau could cooperate is in seeking volunteers to help implement verdicts handed down by the court that relate to ecological compensation.

Zhao cited the case of an elderly man punished for damaging forestland by burning down numerous trees. The defendant, who was too old to be imprisoned for violating fire regulations, was ordered to plant new trees to compensate for the damage caused.

The app can also play a role in attracting people to take part in court hearings related to the environment－helping to raise legal and environmental protection awareness among the public, Zhao said.

Although currently funded by the government, the app is expected to be able to support itself financially in three years.

Zhao said one potential source of income for the app is dividends obtained from recycling companies seeking business on the platform. The company running the app may also benefit financially by extending it to other cities.

Gu, from Meiyalian Environment Technology, said that with support from the authorities to fund the app, the company can continue to operate it, and running costs are expected to fall following consistent improvement efforts.

Instead of seeking business opportunities from other companies, he expects to see more partners increasingly approach the platform for cooperation, as the number of people using the app continues to rise. Gu added that this will also help reduce human resources costs.

According to the bureau, the app has made significant progress.

As of the end of June, more than 35,000 people had registered with it, and there were about 2,000 active daily users. The total carbon reduction it has recorded exceeds 10 metric tons.

Some 13,000 trees have been planted and about 400,000 fish fry released due to the app.

Lu, the public servant, said he has been leading an increasingly low-carbon lifestyle.

"The app reminded me of the need to mend my ways," he said, adding that he now turns off lights every time he leaves a room and also reminds his colleagues to close the door and window before turning on the air conditioner in his office.