In a groundbreaking leap for climate innovation, Ordos in the Chinese mainland’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is pushing the boundaries of carbon capture technology. Dr. Wang Yongsheng and his team announced the expansion of Asia’s first carbon capture and storage (CCS) pilot project to an annual capacity of one million tonnes—equivalent to neutralizing emissions from over 200,000 gas-powered cars or planting nearly 2,000 hectares of forest annually.
Tech Meets Ecology on the Grasslands
The project stores CO₂ in underground saline aquifers, a method gaining traction globally as nations race to meet Paris Agreement targets. Ordos, a region historically tied to coal production, is now emerging as a testing ground for harmonizing industrial activity with ecological preservation.
Global Implications
With G20 nations accounting for 80% of global emissions, scalable CCS solutions could redefine climate diplomacy. China’s progress in this area aligns with its pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, offering lessons for emerging economies balancing growth and sustainability.
Analysts suggest the Ordos model could inspire similar initiatives in Central Asia and the Middle East, where arid regions share comparable geological features. For young climate advocates and tech innovators, this project underscores the urgent potential of engineering-driven environmentalism.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
