China, EU team up on green development

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.

chenbowen@chinadaily.com.cn