Towards carbon neutrality: Developing an assessment framework for villages

Addressing climate change requires both global cooperation and local action. Mountainous rural areas, with their significant carbon sink potential, play a crucial yet under-explored role in achieving carbon neutrality. However, it is not clear how far these villages are from carbon neutrality. This study proposes a novel carbon neutrality assessment framework specifically designed for mountainous villages, integrating carbon emission reduction, sink, and community engagement to assess and guide local carbon neutrality efforts. Case studies in Baizhang Town and its six surrounding villages showed that the town and four villages achieved carbon neutrality, illustrating the framework's effectiveness in reducing emissions and enhancing sink. Theoretical analysis further supports the framework by providing insights into its applicability and scalability for rural communities. The framework offers a practical tool for local communities to manage carbon emissions and implement sustainable practices. This framework can be adapted to other rural areas, offering a model for carbon neutrality efforts across diverse mountainous regions.