If China chooses a phrase of the year for 2021, "carbon neutrality” has to be on the shortlist.

Since Chinese president Xi Jinping announced the world’s largest emitter will reach net zero emissions by 2060, carbon neutrality has become one of the key phrases in every meeting and speech in the country, no matter whether it’s about the economy, finance, technology, or even culture and tourism. It shows a growing climate awareness in Chinese society, but at the same time it’s creating unprecedented levels of hype and greenwashing.

In the past few months alone, at least 10 companies have sent out invitations to us to visit their "carbon neutral” industrial parks or to learn about their "carbon neutral” products from beer to T-shirts. Accompanying the invitations are always descriptions of the nifty technologies used to reduce emissions, charts showing the amount of energy or water saved, and of course slogans echoing the words of top leaders in Beijing.