The City Carbon Neutrality Index (Lishui Index) 2024 Annual Ranking is released on Nov 19. [Photo/Tide News]

The City Carbon Neutrality Index (Lishui Index) 2024 Annual Rankings was released on Nov 19 as a side activity at the China Pavilion during the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Lishui, which the index is named after, ranks seventh of the 55 regions included this year as well as the best in Zhejiang province. Climate investment and financing-related evaluation indicators played a significant role in Lishui's ranking on the carbon neutrality index.

To enhance the adaptability of key sectors such as agriculture, water resources, and forestry to climate change, the concept of climate investment and financing has emerged, guiding and promoting more funds into climate change investment and financing activities.

Since becoming one of the first national climate investment and financing pilot cities in 2022, Lishui has been exploring effective, replicable, and scalable climate investment and financing paths with distinctive Lishui characteristics.

Lishui has created a climate investment and financing joint innovation laboratory to promote innovation in climate investment and financing products and services. Additionally, a committee of experts on climate-action investment and financing was formed to provide guidance, consultation, and coordination.

To date, the total investment and financing of Lishui's climate investment and financing projects has exceeded 61.4 billion yuan ($8.48 billion), driving a carbon reduction of over 3.6 million metric tons.