The BRICS Summit will become a zero-carbon emission event for the first time at its ninth session in Xiamen, Fujian province in September.

Xiamen launched a carbon-neutral project on Aug 22, aiming to offset the carbon dioxide generated by the traffic, cooking, use of air conditioners and other activities during the summit.

Offsetting the carbon emissions generated by major international events has become an increasing trend in recent years. It can be achieved through various approaches including forestation and the purchase of carbon credit.

The BRICS Summit will generate an estimated 3,095 metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent. To offset the emissions of greenhouse gases, Xiamen plans to plant 38.7 hectares of mangroves at a coastal area in Xiang’an district that has been designated as a mangrove wetland park.

The Xiatanwei wetland park began construction in 2011 and is expected to open in 2020. Four Kandelia candel-dominated forests have been planted in the park.

The planting for the carbon-neutral project will be carried out in March and April 2018 at the park.

Xiamen plans to plant 38.7 hectares of mangroves at the Xiatanwei mangrove wetland park to offset carbon emissions caused by the ninth BRICS Summit. [Photo/xmnn.cn]

As a coastal city, Xiamen has a natural advantage to grow mangrove forests, which help improve the region’s biodiversity, purify seawater, and offer refreshing views.

The most popular mangrove orchard among local residents is around Yundang Lake. Xiamen started planting mangroves in the area in 1990s. Now out of 20 mangrove species in China, a dozen can be found in the lake area, including the rare Lamnitzera racemosa.