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Shenyu Island in Baoting, Hainan province, sits among lush rainforest. [Photo provided to CHINA DAILY]

Since the China-EU (Baoting) Green and Digital Innovation Zone was launched in December last year, the project has quickly gone on to become a test bed for Sino-European Union collaboration on green technology, digital carbon management, and the burgeoning field of climate-health science.

The digital zero-carbon industrial park in the Baoting Li and Miao autonomous county of South China's island province of Hainan is designed to fuse economic development with sustainability.

The initiative is spearheaded by the China-EU Carbon Neutrality Cooperation Office, whose core mission is to establish two internationally recognized benchmarks: a pilot zone for the mutual recognition of carbon standards between China and Europe, and a practice ground for the Climate and Health Declaration of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the 2025 Friends of the Paris Agreement High-Level Dialogue, a leading global platform for climate change discussions, will be held in Baoting.

"The zone is a transnational, multilevel and multifield joint innovation," said Zheng Xinli, a renowned economist and former deputy director of the Policy Research Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. "It will promote the Hainan Free Trade Port into forming an open, international platform for cooperation on climate and sustainable development while contributing to the UN's climate actions and sustainable development goals."

Mu Kerui, Baoting's Party secretary, said the project allows Baoting to make its mark at both the UN level and within national strategic frameworks. Nationally, the zone is an initiative to support China's dual carbon goals and address global climate change. At the provincial level, it is seen as a flagship practice for developing new quality productive forces and supporting the development of Hainan Free Trade Port's ecological civilization demonstration zone. "For Baoting itself, the project is a pivotal chance to transform its economy and step onto the international stage," he said.

Mu added that research will establish pathways and mechanisms for the mutual recognition of carbon footprint standards between marine and island regions.

So far, the planning teams have outlined 15 industrial projects and 24 specific scenario-based projects to meet the dual targets of economic growth and zero-carbon development. The initial launch area is called the Ningyuan Carbon Neutrality Project, which aims to become an international destination for tackling climate change and has been designated as one of Hainan province's key ecological civilization demonstration zone projects.

Representatives from China and Europe attend the China-EU (Baoting) Green and Digital Innovation Zone's launch ceremony on Dec 15. WANG CHENGLONG/FOR CHINA DAILY

The Jiamao Medical and Health Industrial Park is another main pillar of the zone. "The park will use tertiary services to drive the development of secondary manufacturing, building a regionally sustainable industrial ecosystem," said Chen Cheng, director of the urban planning and design institute of PowerChina Huadong Engineering Corporation, and deputy leader of the zone's preparatory group. "A 28-kilometer immersive cultural and tourism consumption zone along the county's western reservoirs leverage natural resources to develop future industries targeting 'Generation Z'," he said.

Gao Zhongqiao, deputy general manager for investment promotion at Hainan Baofa Health Medical Technology Co, developer and operator of the initial phase of the Jiamao park, said that agreements are already in place with five enterprises and research institutions specializing in health, technology and medical devices. The first phase is slated for completion by the end of November.

The park has attracted early interest from several research institutions. "Baoting's superior natural environment and its focus on developing the health industry align perfectly with our institute's positioning and plans," said Zhou Jun, head of the working group for the Hainan Free Trade Port Health Medical Research Institute, which has signed on to establish a presence in the park.

The Baoting county government has also formulated a county-wide carbon neutrality roadmap. By 2028, the county aims to build a green, low-carbon industrial system centered on health, tourism, culture and agriculture, and peaking its carbon dioxide emissions ahead of China's national 2030 timeframe.

By 2040, Baoting targets achieving full carbon neutrality. It aims to become a global hub for wellness experts, nongovernmental diplomacy on climate, academic exchanges and the development of international climate and wellness standards.

"Baoting will accelerate the construction of a series of projects within the cooperation zone, promote the application of research results, expand diversified funding channels, and advance green and low-carbon development," said Cai Yaoze, head of Baoting county government. "We will ensure support, such as land and planning, to expedite projects like the China-EU (Baoting) green digital carbon management platform."

The innovation zone has garnered significant international endorsement. Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation and France's former climate change ambassador and special representative for COP21, praised the zone's value. "It sets an example for island regions and provides valuable experience for international multilateral cooperation among China, Europe and international organizations," she said, expressing hope that Baoting's example would inspire more regions to achieve their climate goals.

Nearly 4,084 hectares of rainforest are managed by an intelligent system in Baoting. [Photo provided to CHINA DAILY]

This international backing was further solidified in March when the United Nations Development Programme and its Chinese partners launched a green and digital innovation project in Baoting. The project aims to accelerate China's green transition, enhance climate resilience and foster international cooperation by establishing mechanisms for policy, standards and knowledge sharing, particularly among developing nations and island regions.

"The impact of climate change on human health is becoming increasingly significant, with extreme weather, air pollution and the spread of infectious diseases all closely linked," said Zhang Yi, deputy director of the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges of the Ministry of Commerce.

The World Health Organization has endorsed Baoting's integrated approach to addressing climate and health, while stressing the critical importance of cross-regional cooperation. A WHO assessment noted that Asia, with China as its largest economy, is the world's biggest and fastest-growing economic bloc, meaning its climate actions will significantly shape the global future. The WHO plans to integrate the Baoting pilot project with its environmental health research programs in China, aiming to use the project's findings as a model that can be applied globally.

By taking a holistic approach that integrates climate resilience, digital innovation and health sciences, the zone is attempting to pioneer a new paradigm for sustainable development, positioning itself as a test case for China and the world.