Yantai, Shandong Offers “Chinese Solution” for Global Island Sustainability

Yantai, a coastal city in east China’s Shandong Province, administers 230 islands, including Changdao — home to China’s first international zero-carbon island. In recent years, Changdao has developed a series of practical, demonstrative, and replicable zero-carbon scenarios based on six major systems: zero-carbon transportation, living, tourism, public services, a comprehensive zero-carbon atmosphere, and an island-wide zero-carbon model in Miaodao.

Scenery of Changdao Scenic Area in Yantai

Photo by the Information Office of Yantai Municipal People’s Government

Leveraging Changdao as a model, on November 13, 2024, during the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Yantai initiated the establishment of the world’s first international organization dedicated to zero-carbon islands—the International Zero-Carbon Island Cooperation Organization. To date, over 30 institutions from China and around the world have joined the organization.

Solar-powered lights and benches installed at a pocket park in Changdao, Yantai

Photo by the Information Office of Yantai Municipal People’s Government

Yantai’s green transformation is not an isolated case. From upgrading its power grid to building urban ecological micro-cycle systems, the city is making steady progress toward deeper green and low-carbon development. A key element in constructing zero-carbon islands is talent empowerment. Centered around local enterprises, Yantai has developed a zero-carbon island cooperation ecosystem that integrates technology export, industrial collaboration, and talent cultivation. This integrated model is offering a "Chinese solution" for the sustainable development of islands worldwide.

In November 2025, during COP30 to the UNFCCC, Yantai will continue to host a series of events. These will include firsthand accounts from island nations, sharing scalable, replicable models for sustainable island development and offering valuable insights for global reference.