From November 17 to 19, against the backdrop of Yantai’s sapphire seas and skies, a landmark blue summit—the International Ocean Carbon Sink Industry Forum—gathered over 100 global participants, including renowned academics, government representatives, research institutions, and industry leaders. Together, they engaged in dialogue to shape a sustainable blue future, foster collaborative development, and share innovative pathways for ocean carbon sequestration.
A defining moment of the forum was the inauguration of the International Cooperation Center for Ocean Carbon Sink Technology and Industry, accompanied by the release of five major achievements that underscore Yantai’s growing influence in the field. These included:
The world’s first experimental platform for hydrogen-methanol-ammonia energy islands, accompanied by local technical standards
The first electrochemical sensing-based real-time seawater CO₂ monitoring system
An international ocean carbon sink standard framework—Guidelines for Zero-Carbon Island Development
Blue carbon initiatives addressing global climate change
A methodology for certifying carbon offsets derived from seagrass restoration
These breakthroughs not only demonstrate Yantai’s “substantive expertise” in the ocean carbon sink sector but also present replicable “Chinese approaches and Yantai solutions,” offering scalable technological routes for global implementation.
During the industry technology session, representatives from the United Nations Development Programme, World Wide Fund for Nature, Zhejiang Ocean University, Changdao Marine Ecological Civilization Pilot Zone, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (Chinese Academy of Sciences), Harbin Engineering University, and Jinghai Fisheries shared insights on carbon sink monitoring, ecological restoration, carbon finance, sustainable aquaculture, and low-carbon marine equipment. The exchange of cutting-edge research and practical experience strengthened industry-academia-research synergy, accelerating the transition of ocean carbon sink technologies from laboratories to commercial applications.
By building an end-to-end ecosystem that transforms “resources into assets” and “research into industry,” Yantai has positioned itself as a living laboratory for contemporary ocean carbon sink innovation. With a spirit of openness and collaboration, the city extends a sincere invitation to international and domestic stakeholders to bring research projects, experimental sites, and industrial ventures to its shores—aspiring to build a global hub for ocean carbon sink development and contribute Yantai’s wisdom and strength to global ocean governance and climate action.
