The Qingdao National High-tech Industrial Development Zone is gaining global recognition at the 9th C40 World Mayors Summit for its transformative approach to reducing pollution and carbon emissions while maintaining robust economic growth. It was featured in the China City Climate Action Case Studies report, highlighting effective models for urban sustainability.

The zone has built a comprehensive renewable energy heating network covering 4.26 million square meters — 44 percent of its total heating area — by creatively tapping multiple clean sources. These include recovering thermal energy from treated wastewater and river systems, along with using cross-regional biomass. This system alone cuts coal consumption by 17,000 metric tons annually and reduces CO₂ emissions by 60,000 metric tons.

Furthermore, the zone utilizes industrial waste heat and has promoted widespread adoption of distributed solar power, generating over 60 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. A "green certificate purchase + self-generation" model ensures that 20 percent of industrial electricity comes from renewable sources.

Intelligent management is key: a smart energy platform using geospatial and building data helps achieve over 10 percent energy savings and 15 percent carbon reduction. Companies like Hexagon's smart factory have reduced energy use by 40 percent and earned international carbon-neutral certification.

Over the past five years, the zone's industrial output has grown at an impressive average annual rate of 13.7 percent, while its carbon intensity per unit of industrial added value has dropped by 45.5 percent since 2020 — proving that economic growth and climate action can go hand in hand.

The Qingdao National High-tech Industrial Development Zone pioneers a sustainable development model by building renewable heating networks and promoting industrial green electricity, achieving both economic growth and substantial emission reductions. [Photo/Guanhai News]

A bird's-eye view reveals the vast scale of the solar panel array within the Qingdao high-tech zone. Photo/Guanhai News]