A camping site in Huzhou. [Photo/Tide News]

Huzhou, a city in East China's Zhejiang province, released its green lifestyle index for 2023 on Aug 11. Scoring a remarkable 94.2, it showed a 3.9-point year-on-year increase and indicated new progress in the city's green transition.

The index, which was first introduced by Huzhou and has been released for three consecutive years, is a comprehensive gauge widely recognized by experts in the field and prestigious institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Unlike green production, green lifestyle is more about public awareness and thus trickier to measure. In light of this, Huzhou has established a comprehensive evaluation system which involves quantifiable results, such as average household electricity usage and the number of charging piles for new energy vehicles (NEVs), as well as polling people's inclinations towards a green lifestyle and their behavioral preferences.

Based on the new trends in people's daily lives, the evaluation system takes more data into consideration. For example, this year's index included two new indicators: one is the coverage of NEV charging piles in towns and villages as more NEV owners spend their holidays there, while another is the number of traceless camping sites, since the recreational activity is gaining popularity.

To hasten the green transition, Huzhou has emphasized collaboration between the government, businesses, and individuals over the past three years. The government offers policy support and funding, while businesses pioneer market-driven initiatives, and individuals make positive contributions through small everyday actions.