Boao Zero-Carbon Zone achieves 99.9% CO2 emissions reduction

An aerial drone photo taken on March 19, 2026 shows the Boao zero-carbon demonstration zone in Boao, South China's Hainan province. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Boao Zero-Carbon Demonstration Zone in Qionghai, South China's Hainan province, has reached a stage of routine, full-scale zero-carbon operation, a milestone built on significant progress in energy conservation and carbon reduction.

By the end of 2025, carbon dioxide emissions from buildings and municipal infrastructure in the zone had fallen from about 11,350 metric tons in 2019 to only about 14.6 tons, a reduction of 99.9 percent, according to the Hainan Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

The zone generates 29 million kilowatt-hours of green electricity annually, meeting its own demand of about 19.4 million kWh while feeding the remaining 9.6 million kWh into the grid, accumulating 4,965 tons of carbon credits, it disclosed on the sidelines of the annual Boao Forum for Asia, which kicked off on Tuesday and will run through Friday.

Launched in 2022 as a joint initiative between the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the Hainan provincial government, the zone encompasses 18 renovation projects across eight categories, including green architecture, renewable energy use and green transportation.

The zone was officially renamed from the Boao Near-Zero Carbon Demonstration Zone to its current title in March 2025.