Lingshan Island emerges as China's premier self-sustaining negative carbon haven

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment in China recently unveiled the honorees for its 2022 Green Low-Carbon Typical Case Collection Activity. A standout among them is a project spearheaded by the local nature reserve on Lingshan Island, acclaimed as "China's first self-sustaining negative carbon island". The initiative is one of three from Shandong province to make the list and distinguishes itself as its sole community-based endeavor.

The Lingshan Island provincial nature reserve has unwaveringly pursued sustainable development in recent years. The efforts span a wide range of initiatives, including pioneering research into achieving peak carbon output and carbon neutrality, instituting incentives for reducing carbon emissions, promoting clean energy home heating solutions, enforcing a zero-entry rule for fuel vehicles on the island, implementing comprehensive solar street lighting, and advancing desalination projects.

On December 31, 2021, the reserve's achievement of annual harmful carbon emissions—equivalent to offsetting 1,333 metric tons of CO₂—earned certification from the China Quality Certification Center (CQC). This recognition marks it as the nation's inaugural autonomous region to achieve negative carbon status, as validated by an authoritative body. This milestone sets a precedent for further investigations into dual carbon studies.

An aerial view of Lingshan Island. [Photo/WeChat account: qdxihaianfabu]