The GNSS System Supports a Low-Carbon Lifestyle

The existence of artificial satellites has brought numerous conveniences to our lives, such as stable and rapid communications, accurate and reliable weather forecasting, and well‑planned travel. China’s GNSS‑3 constellation, with 30 satellites in orbit, is operating in excellent condition, and more than 300 types of components—totaling several million parts—have been entirely domestically produced. After years of development, the GNSS system has entered a fast track of large‑scale application; in 2021, the overall output value of China’s satellite navigation and positioning services industry reached approximately RMB 470 billion, with an annual compound growth rate exceeding 20%.

The GNSS system boasts outstanding performance and robust functionality, offering a wide array of services to meet diverse user needs. Globally, it provides positioning, navigation, and timing; international search-and-rescue; and global short-message communication. In the Asia-Pacific region, it delivers regional short-message communication, satellite-based augmentation, precise single-point positioning, and ground-based augmentation—four distinct regional services. Against the backdrop of China’s “dual carbon” goals, the GNSS system is well positioned to support the country’s efforts to reduce emissions and promote low‑carbon development. It has been extensively integrated across various sectors of economic and social development, deeply converging with emerging technologies such as big data, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence. This synergy has given rise to new business models under the “GNSS+” and “+GNSS” frameworks, bolstering the digital transformation of the economy and society while enhancing quality and efficiency. By embedding itself in key industries—including transportation, energy, agriculture, telecommunications, meteorology, natural resources, ecological environment, and emergency response and disaster reduction—the system helps cut costs and boost productivity. Moreover, through applications such as smartphones, vehicle‑mounted terminals, and wearable devices, the GNSS system comprehensively supports green mobility, food delivery, health and elderly care, as well as healthcare and education.

As a new, green, and shared‑economy model, riding shared bicycles represents an individual contribution to achieving the “dual carbon” goals. Currently, China has deployed 8 million shared e‑bikes, reducing annual carbon emissions by approximately 1.64 million tons. Taking Harbin as an example, since 2021 the city has implemented a “designated parking + in‑bin settlement” system across the entire urban area. Leveraging the dual‑positioning technology of GNSS and GPS, this approach guides citizens to park and return bikes neatly within designated parking zones. Grounded in technological innovation, this planning fully accounts for residents’ travel needs and local road conditions, with scientifically mapped parking spots throughout the city. As a result, shared mobility has become greener and more civilized, while also providing other cities with replicable, scalable, and effective management practices.