The Blue Book on Blue Carbon in China 2024 - the country's first publication of its kind - is officially released in Qingdao, Shandong province on Nov 17. [Photo by Wang Yifan/for chinadaily.com.cn]

The 2024 Blue Carbon Achievement Release was held in Qingdao, Shandong province on Nov 17, marking the official launch of The Blue Book on Blue Carbon in China 2024 - the country's first publication of its kind.

According to the Center for Ocean Carbon Neutrality (COCN) at the Ocean University of China (OUC), which spearheaded the book's development, the blue book brought together global scholars and experts, utilizing OUC's multidisciplinary strengths in oceanography to support China's dual carbon goals. It also seeks to provide Chinese perspectives and solutions to tackle the global challenges presented by climate change.

Blue carbon is a concept within climate change mitigation that refers to biologically driven carbon fluxes and storage in marine systems that are amenable to management, according to Wikipedia.

Li Jianping, director of the COCN, said that the blue book centers on the goal of carbon neutrality. It draws on data from multiple perspectives to analyze the current state, challenges, and future development of blue carbon in China, while also highlighting international experiences and case studies as valuable references.

Li Tiegang, director of the First Institute of Oceanography at the Ministry of Natural Resources, emphasized the significance of the blue book. He noted that it will deepen understanding of blue carbon, advance foundational theories, and provide engineering demonstrations. Furthermore, the book is expected to enhance international collaboration and address pressing global challenges that concern humanity's shared future.

The 2024 Blue Carbon Achievement Release was hosted by the OUC and organized by the COCN and China Ocean University Press. It attracted over 100 participants from government bodies, research institutions, universities, and publishing houses worldwide.