In 2018, Energy Foundation China and the Institute for Sustainable Communities funded the China Quality Certification Center to provide key technical assistance for pilot projects of near-zero carbon emissions zones in Guangdong.

Covering six components of near-zero emissions zones, including buildings, transportation, enterprises, industrial zones, communities, and towns, the report analyzed how much carbon emissions each of the pilot project have, how to evaluate these projects, and how they are and will be applying low carbon technologies. After that, it put forward technical pathway suggestions for each of the six components. The research can be helpful for initiatives demonstrating near-zero carbon emissions zones in Guangdong, as well as to other provinces and cities that are developing similar policies.