Baseline information:
To achieve carbon neutrality, the first step is to adjust the energy mix and gradually reduce or alternate fossil fuels. It is crucial to increase the usage of solar, wind, hydropower, and other renewable energy sources. The second is to improve the energy efficiency of all industries, especially manufacturing, therefore more production can be created with less energy and the demands of economic growth and environmental protection can be met at the same time. Thirdly, guiding the public to green lifestyles transformation including green travel, ?26 degrees air conditioning? action, can transform reducing emission and influence companies and corporations. At present, society mainly focuses on energy transition and industrial adjustment. There is a lack of clear plans for carbon-neutral actions at the community level. Carbon emission at the community level is caused by energy consumption including fossil fuel combustion, residents' transportation and outsourced power and heat production. The most ideal state of carbon-neutral at the community level is to achieve carbon source (carbon emission) and carbon sink (carbon absorption) balance. The sub-ideal state is that the carbon source and carbon sink in the community cannot balance each other but the carbon sink in other regions can be balanced by ecological compensation or carbon emission trading market.
Shaanxi province has proposed accelerating green and low-carbon development in the 14th Five-Year Plan. The government will improve the market-oriented innovation system for green technologies, carry out policies and measures for the development of green industries, promote cleaner production, develop environmental protection industries, and transform industrial parks into more sustainable systems. This project involves 2 community neighbourhood committees under the jurisdiction of the Jinger Road Sub-district office in Weibin District -- Xinmin Road community and Weigong Road Community, with a total of 8720 households and 27737 people.

Main problems:
1. The community lacks green and low-carbon knowledge and awareness and therefore lacks goals and planning. Most community residents do not pay enough attention to the topics under climate change and sustainable development. Also, there is a lack of professional resources to guide communities in setting green and low-carbon goals; Moreover, there is no professional and sustainable system regarding residents participating in green and low-carbon activities, and the goal of carbon neutrality has not been achieved. The community committee lacks systematic organization, planning, and related skills for holding activities.
2. Low rates of renewable energy usage and lack of data on carbon emissions at the community level due to stable centralized electricity and gas supply and lack of awareness of the environmental value. Also, no technical guidance at the community level is another reason causing this problem.
3. Communities do have not enough internal drive to promote green, low-carbon and sustainable development. The main reasons are lack of organizations in the field of green environmental protection, lack of sustained investment in the community organized activities and lack of effective incentives at the community level.
4. The local government lacks the experience to promote green and low-carbon activities at the community level. The local government needs professional support in the field of carbon neutrality and financial inputs. Moreover, the government might also experience difficulties in integrating multi-sectoral resources and policies.

Activities:
1. Community mobilization and conduct baseline research at the community level. Hold the project initiating meeting., compile, and print project publicity materials, carry out community mobilization, conduct baseline research and establish project monitoring and evaluation framework.
2. Carry out the green and low-carbon classroom in the community. Hold 40 green and low-carbon classes in the community for residents to learn green and low-carbon knowledge and raise awareness.
3. Build photovoltaic power stations in target communities. Build an 18kW solar photovoltaic power demonstration station in the Weigong Road Community Activity Center to demonstrate renewable energy technologies and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Build carbon-neutral hubs in the target communities. Carbon neutral hubs will have an independent micro-grid power supply, and combine with the functions of community garbage classification, environmental protection publicity and volunteer service stations to promote the participation of community residents.
5. Establish ?non-profit green publicity corner?, based on the installation of photovoltaic power stations and carbon-neutral hubs, to advertise a more sustainable lifestyle such as using cleaner energy, classifying garbage, and reducing carbon emission.
6. Organize green volunteers at the community level. Encourage communities to establish volunteer teams in the field of environmental protection, assist with capacity building and capital support.
7. Summary experience and carry out low-carbon community construction methodology to expand the social influence of this pilot project.

Anticipated outcomes:

1) Work with local government to hold the project initiating meeting.
2) At least 100 residents in the target community complete the baseline study survey.
3) Publish baseline study report.
4) Formulate the monitoring and evaluation framework of the project.
5) Compile and print 1000 copies of project introduction materials
6) Reported by provincial and municipal media.
7)Carry out at least 40 green and low-carbon classes (10 classes per community per year).
8)2000 community residents participate in green and low-carbon classes.
9)Carry out 1000 copies of Green and low-carbon Knowledge in the Community Brochure.
10)Residents who participated in the learning sessions gain 90% knowledge in Green and low-carbon Knowledge in the Community Brochure.
11)Raise awareness of green and low carbon in the community by more than 50%. Quantify by comparing surveys collected before the after Activity 2.
12) A rooftop photovoltaic power station covering an area of about 200 square meters, with an installed power of about 18kWP, will connect to the mode of "self-use, surplus power access".
13) The photovoltaic power station is expected to generate 21,600kWh of electricity annually (installed capacity 18000W local annual sunshine hours 1200h)
14) The photovoltaic power station can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 21,535.52 kg per year (saving 1kWh is equivalent to saving 0.997kg of co2 emissions) for 25 years.
15) The photovoltaic power station can bring 10,584 yuan of income to the community every year (0.49 yuan /kWh), which can be used for environmental protection activities later.
16) Install photovoltaic power with no more than 3kWp generation, and energy storage batteries to achieve an independent microgrid power supply.
17) The carbon-neutral hubs generate electricity equivalent to 358.92kg of greenhouse gas emissions per year (saving 1kWh is equivalent to saving 0.997kg of CO2 emissions).
18) The carbon-neutral hubs attract the attention of community residents and media, and can result in at least 200 people participating in green service provides in the carbon-neutral hubs.
19)Establish two ?non-profit green publicity corners? based on the installation of photovoltaic power stations and carbon-neutral hubs.
20)Exhibit and demonstrate 20 cases of energy-saving and emission reduction from 20 households in the community in the non-profit green publicity corner.
21)At least 200 people are involved in carbon emissions calculation through an online carbon management platform.
22)Carry out two environmental protection organizations that have complete registration.
23)At least 100 community residents actively participate in the green environmental protection organizations and more than 60% of them are female.
24)Carry out at least 6 sessions of capacity development training to empower community organizations.
25)Carry out at least 6 mini-environmental protection projects independent hold by community organizations
26)Introduce incentive policies for community organizations by the community committee.
27)Compile and print 1000 copies of the Green and low-carbon Knowledge in the Community Brochure in both English and Chinese and distribute to stakeholders.
28)At least 200 people attend the project experience summary meeting.
29)Demonstrate experience and achievements of the project in government documents.
30)Publish papers or case studies in research under related topics.
31)10 reports published in official social media accounts including WeChat.
32)Reported by at least three mainstream media and influence more than 10,000 people.