NCEC Interview Questions

1.     How does Green Inclusive contribute to removing carbon from the atmosphere?

Green Inclusive is a Generalized System of Preference (CGSP) service provider that uses digital technology to drive behavioral change for carbon reduction and address climate change. This empowers individuals to contribute to carbon neutrality with a digital carbon account book under the motto "Technology Drives Emissions Reduction for All Individuals."

Green Inclusive developed the product "Green Inclusive Cloud (GIC) - Carbon Emission Reduction Digital Account Book" which is a third-party underlying platform for green life measurement. Its schematic diagram of working principle shows that the top layer is for people to conduct various low-carbon life scenarios, including use of public transportation, driving new energy vehicles etc. Citizens' emission reduction behaviors above are recorded by digital firms at the second layer, and at the same time the GIC is authorized to quantify and record people's green behavior, forming three account books for the government, firms, and individuals.

The product digitally integrates resources of all relevant stakeholders, serves enterprises and governments to establish digital carbon emission reduction platforms that build a digital carbon emission account book for each individual. Each citizen's emission reduction behavior can be recorded and awarded, which can help people to raise awareness of environmental protection, participate in climate action and live in a low-carbon way, thus reaching our vision "Green and low-carbon living becomes everyone's lifestyle".

Green Inclusive's solution has positively impacted the environment by promoting personal carbon reduction initiatives. The"Green Inclusive Cloud - Carbon Emission Reduction Digital Account Book," makes personal contributions to carbon reduction visible, measurable, and rewarding, thus motivating individuals to actively participate in carbon reduction activities. The platform has already been implemented successfully in over 10 provinces and cities across China, influencing the behaviors of more than 90 million people. This widespread influence indicates that Green Inclusive's solution has a substantial impact on carbon reduction at a national and potentially global level. The shift in behavior has led to the emission reduction of over 1.8 million tons CO2, testifying to its practicality and effectiveness.

2.     What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in carbon removal? 

When Green Inclusive was first established, we faced some challenges. The primary hurdle was conceptual—many people were unfamiliar with "Carbon Neutral," let alone more complex ideas like consumption-side emission reduction and Carbon Generalized System of Preferences. This made it difficult to effectively communicate our value proposition.

Our second major challenge was technological. As a startup building our system, we needed to develop our products and collaborate with large internet companies on data exchange to help individuals create carbon account books. Working with tech giants proved especially challenging, particularly regarding data cooperation.

We also faced challenges such as the lack of standardized metrics for individual emission reduction which we formulated later to evaluate the environmental impact of low-carbon behaviors. Besides, We also needed to convince both government and business clients of our platform's effectiveness and value. The market validation process proved to be our most significant early-stage challenge.

3. Who are the key stakeholders in the carbon removal space?

Governments are key stakeholders in promoting individual emission reduction, because they play a critical role in setting policies, regulations, establishing Carbon Generalized System of Preference and give incentives that drive more business to join in the platform. They can allocate funding for research and development, establish carbon pricing mechanisms, and create frameworks that encourage business participation.The carbon Generalized System of Preference built by the government serves as a green bridge between government enterprises and the public. Enterprises attract public participation through innovative solutions, while the public receives rewards for environmental behaviors. This model makes emission reduction engaging, with every eco-friendly choice bringing rewards.

Enterprises are also crucial for implementing carbon reduction strategies, creating carbon accounts, and linking low-carbon behaviors with commercial incentives. Scenario enterprises record every green action through digital platforms. For example, when you transport by shared bicycle, the system records this carbon reduction contribution. These actions are like deposits in a green bank, ultimately converting into tangible rewards. Incentive enterprises provide rewards for green actions. For instance,taking subway to work might earn shop vouchers, while reducing plastic bag usage could result in coffee shop discounts. This approach both encourages green behavior and enhances corporate image, naturally integrating green concepts into daily life.

In the journey toward carbon neutrality, individual power cannot be ignored. Personal low-carbon behavioral habits are crucial to achieving the national "dual carbon" goals, like drops of water flowing into the ocean - seemingly small but deeply significant. The importance of individual low-carbon behavior is reflected in three aspects: First, the collective effect of individual emission reductions forms an important part of social emission reduction; second, consumers' low-carbon choices drive enterprises toward green transformation; finally, public environmental awareness can promote government development of stronger supporting policies.

4. Who else is doing work like this in the field?

Several organizations are working in the digital carbon tracking and behavior change space, each with a unique approach and focus. Some notable examples include:

The City of Lahti in Finland implemented CitiCAP, a pioneering personal carbon trading scheme that tracks citizens' transportation methods and rewards sustainable choices with virtual coins redeemable for local services. This municipal-level initiative represents an interesting governmental approach to individual carbon tracking.

Alipay's "Ant Forest" is a well-known initiative that encourages users to reduce their carbon footprint through gamification and rewards that has reached hundreds of millions of users.

Enfuce's 'My Carbon Action' is a transaction-based carbon footprint calculator that allows banks and financial institutions to help their customers track the carbon impact of their purchases. Their solution integrates into existing banking apps to provide consumers with immediate feedback on their carbon footprint.

Companies like Mastercard and Visa have developed carbon tracking tools integrated with payment systems to help consumers understand the carbon footprint of their transactions. Additionally, startups like Doconomy in Sweden are making strides in providing financial tools for carbon footprint tracking and reduction.

However, Green Inclusive distinguishes itself by combining personalized digital carbon account books with a systematic, scalable approach that directly engages individuals, corporations, and governments. This holistic strategy is designed not only to reduce emissions but also to foster behavioral change on a large scale, making Green Inclusive's efforts uniquely impactful in this evolving field. Our digital carbon account books not only record emissions reductions but also serve as measurement tools for green finance initiatives within banks and financial institutions. Additionally, our work with over 10 provinces in China and numerous enterprises demonstrates our ability to scale solutions that connect individual behavior change to broader policy objectives, creating a more inclusive path to decarbonization that can work across different socioeconomic contexts.

5. How is this a viable financial model?

Green Inclusive operates on a multi-phase financial model designed to ensure both short-term sustainability and long-term growth. At its core, the model is based on the scalable and recurring value of personal carbon reduction data, which serves as the foundation for diverse revenue streams.

·      Government Payment:

We serve government entities to build inclusive decarbonization platforms that help measure and manage personal carbon reduction efforts at city level. Governments pay for platforms establishment because they align with their carbon neutrality goals and policy mandates. This foundational phase allows us to establish credibility, build the data infrastructure, and create a network effect while covering operational costs through government contracts.

·      Corporate Payment:

We also extend our services to corporations. Many enterprises have ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals and carbon neutrality targets but lack the tools to quantify and engage in meaningful carbon reduction. Green Inclusive provides them with Software as a Service (SaaS)-based solutions, such as carbon accounts for employees and customers, enabling them to capture and utilize carbon data. These businesses pay for the value we bring, including enhanced brand positioning, customer loyalty, and regulatory compliance.

·      Transaction-Based Revenue Streams:

Over time, as data volume scales, we monetize by facilitating carbon credit transactions between corporations,  individuals and corporations, earning a commission on each transaction. For instance, companies seeking to offset emissions can purchase carbon reductions generated by individual behaviors record on our platform and issued by government, creating a market-driven revenue stream.

·      Future C-to-B and C-to-C Opportunities:

Another financial model is leveraging personal carbon accounts for consumer-facing applications. For example, integrating carbon reduction data into retail and marketing ecosystems allows consumers to use their carbon credits for discounts or benefits, while businesses use these initiatives for green marketing. This creates a new avenue for revenue generation while driving consumer engagement.

·      Scalability and Network Effects:

Our model benefits from significant network and compounding effects. As more governments, corporations, and individual users join the platform, the value of the ecosystem grows exponentially. The initial infrastructure costs are spread across a growing user base, creating economies of scale and reducing marginal costs over time.

In essence, our financial model is viable because it creates multiple interconnected revenue streams, aligns with policy and market trends, and leverages the intrinsic value of data to build a self-reinforcing ecosystem. By combining government partnerships, corporate services, and consumer engagement, we ensure both economic sustainability and long-term growth potential.

6. What happens to the carbon when removed?

   1. Is there a market for it?

   2. How is it stored/managed?

When carbon is reduced through Green Inclusive, it is not physically removed from the atmosphere like traditional carbon capture methods. Instead, Green Inclusive focuses on incentivizing behavioral changes that lead to measurable carbon reductions. These reductions occur by encouraging individuals and organizations to adopt greener lifestyles and practices instead of high-carbon emission alternatives, such as using public transportation, recycling, or reducing energy consumption.

The carbon reductions are quantified using our advanced digital platform, Green Inclusive Cloud, which ensures accuracy, traceability, and transparency. The data is aggregated into personal carbon accounts, creating a comprehensive record of emission reductions for each user. While the carbon itself remains part of the natural cycle, our platform ensures that these reductions are accounted for and can be leveraged for further incentives, such as participation in carbon trading mechanisms or recognition in sustainability initiatives.

Ultimately, Green Inclusive transforms these reductions into valuable data assets that drive further green behaviors and contribute to broader carbon neutrality goals.

7. How do groups like the New Carbon Economy Consortium allow you to further your progress? 

Groups like the New Carbon Economy Consortium could help us in accelerating our progress at Green Inclusive by fostering collaboration, innovation, and visibility internationally. Through the platform, we gain access to a global network of like-minded organizations, thought leaders, and experts who are collectively advocating for digital, individual-focused carbon reduction. This allows us to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and learn from the experiences of others in the carbon reduction and innovation space.

Additionally, the consortium provides us with opportunities to amplify our voice and showcase our work. It may as a vital endorsement of the work we are doing to create scalable and impactful solutions for personal carbon reduction.

8. How do you work with local communities?

At Green Inclusive, we prioritize collaboration with local communities as a fundamental aspect of our mission to promote sustainable and low-carbon lifestyles. We  engage local communities by organizing educational campaigns and workshops to raise awareness about carbon reduction and sustainability. These initiatives empower individuals with knowledge and tools to contribute meaningfully to a greener future.

Furthermore, we actively partner with community organizations to integrate carbon reduction practices into everyday life. For example, we connect residents' green behaviors with tangible incentives, such as discounts or rewards, creating a system that benefits individual for their green behaviors.

9. Anything else you’d like to share?

Thank you for the opportunity to share more about Green Inclusive. We are particularly proud of the role we've played in integrating digital solutions into carbon reduction efforts. With our "Green Inclusive Cloud - Carbon Emission Reduction Account Book," we've created a system that transforms individual green behaviors into quantifiable carbon assets. This isn't merely about recording data—it's about empowering individuals and organizations to make meaningful contributions to carbon reduction while reaping tangible benefits.  Looking ahead, we are committed to scaling our efforts globally. While we've established a strong foundation in China, we believe our model has the potential to address sustainability challenges worldwide.

Lastly, I'd like to highlight that Green Inclusive is not just a technological solution—it's about inspiring collective action, leveraging data and innovation, and fostering a culture where sustainable choices are incentivized, celebrated, and rewarded. With more than 7 billion people worldwide, even small daily reductions in individual carbon footprints can have a considerable global impact. Together, we can create a future where carbon reduction is seamlessly integrated into daily life, contributing to a healthier planet for generations to come.