Case Study

Accreditation empowers the development of “zero-carbon villages”

 

Summary

In support of green development, a Beijing-based enterprise has innovatively established and implemented a zero-carbon certification and evaluation system, building upon the technical foundation of accredited greenhouse gas (GHG) validation and verification mechanisms. This initiative has contributed to the creation of Hainan Province’s first “zero-carbon village” in Maona Village, Shuiman Township, Wuzhishan City, Hainan Province.

Background

To promote the specialised, refined, distinctive, and innovative development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which are also known as “Specialized and New” enterprises, since early 2024, the Chinese government has been encouraging SMEs to obtain quality management system certification accredited by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) as an important measure to strengthen quality management and enhance production management capabilities.

Strategy

Leveraging the technical foundation of the GHG validation and verification system accredited by CNAS, a body in Beijing has pioneered integrated innovation in digital-intelligence and zero-carbon (near-zero-carbon) certification technologies. It established a zero-carbon certification system to assist Mao Na Village in becoming Hainan Province’s first and China’s second “Zero-Carbon Village”.

This body is a national high-tech enterprise and a “Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative” SME in Beijing. It operates as a global, group-based professional technical service provider integrating certification, inspection, testing, training, research, policy studies, standard formulation, and international cooperation.

It is the first certification body accredited by CNAS under the new ISO/IEC 17029/ISO 14065 GHG validation/verification rules and is authorised by CNAS to use the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) mark. As of August 2025, it had trained 311 registered GHG managers, undertaken 19 GHG-related research projects, led or participated in formulating 44 relevant standards, and completed over 4,000 GHG validation/verification projects. It has engaged deeply in national/provincial (municipal) carbon market policy research and implementation.

To support the development of China’s national carbon market system, the body leveraged its expertise in GHG validation/verification accreditation and practical experience to collaborate with relevant entities in submitting the “Proposal on Strengthening Carbon Market Construction through Conformity Assessment Techniques” to the ecological authority. It participated in CNAS research on carbon footprint accreditation systems and conducted comparative studies on domestic and international carbon footprint factor databases, aiding the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences in launching the National Carbon Footprint Factor Database. Additionally, the body contributed to drafting the “Greenhouse Gas Voluntary Emission Reduction Project Methodology for Energy Savings in Highway Tunnel Lighting Systems (CCER-07-001-V01)” CCER methodology, actively supporting national carbon market development and carbon data quality control.

To facilitate green and low-carbon transformation for enterprises, the body led the development of group standards such as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Recycling and Treatment for project-level emission reduction accounting. It organised pilot programs for emission reduction accounting with 12 enterprises.

Results and impact

This initiative has contributed to the creation of Hainan Province’s first “zero-carbon village” in Maona Village.

Contact

Organisation: Compiled by China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS)