As nations prepare for COP30, Baoting Li and Miao autonomous county in Hainan province is positioning itself as a model for local climate action.

At a conference centered around Hainan's participation in the COP process, held Monday through Tuesday in Baoting, over 100 representatives from international organizations, governments, research institutions, and companies gathered to discuss turning climate pledges into practice.

The conference highlighted Baoting's initiatives of the Hainan Free Trade Port, a UN Development Programme on green and digital innovation, and a World Health Organization-led project on the health benefits of climate action. The autonomous county proposed a plan to reduce its carbon footprint.

China's former special envoy for climate, Xie Zhenhua, stated in a speech that Baoting's practical cooperation with European partners will not only advance its own sustainable development and help Hainan achieve its goals of becoming a free trade port and a low-carbon island, but also offer a localized solution to global zero-carbon development.

Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation and special envoy to Europe for COP30, stressed that meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement requires action at the local level. She praised Baoting as an inspiring example because of its multi-stakeholder collaborations. She also mentioned that Hainan's experience could serve as a useful model for other island economies.