On the morning of November 13 local time, the launch event for the International Zero-Carbon Islands Cooperation Initiative was held at the China Pavilion of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

At the event, 32 domestic and international island cities, international organizations, universities and research institutions, financial institutions, and enterprises, as initiating units, jointly issued the International Zero-Carbon Islands Cooperation Initiative to the world. The initiative aims to explore the establishment of an International Zero-Carbon Islands Cooperation Organization and calls on all parties to contribute to the sustainable development of islands and global climate action. The Indian Ocean Island Countries Research Center of South China University of Technology participated in the launch of the initiative as one of the co-initiating units.

As the lead initiator of the International Zero-Carbon Islands Cooperation Initiative, the city of Yantai, representing the 32 co-initiating units, announced the initiative at the event. The cooperation initiative proposes four key actions:

1. Enhancing Climate Resilience: Strengthen the infrastructure and capacity of islands to respond to disasters, implement the United Nations' Early Warnings for All Initiative, promote mutual assistance and sharing of emergency relief supplies, and reduce the losses and damages caused by climate change.

2. Exploring Zero-Carbon Pathways: Develop clean energy systems, promote green buildings, green transportation, and green communities, and foster the development of low-carbon industries such as modern marine fisheries, modern agriculture, and low-carbon tourism.

3. Protecting Ecological Resources: Strengthen the protection, development, utilization, research, and management of island resources, implement comprehensive water resource utilization projects, and carry out coastal zone protection and restoration.

4. Strengthening Cooperation and Exchange: Explore the establishment of an International Zero-Carbon Islands Cooperation Organization, encourage more island stakeholders to join, and promote information sharing, technological exchange, and mutual learning of experiences. Enhance academic interaction and cultural exchanges among islands and strengthen international cooperation for island climate action.

It is reported that there are over 50,000 islands globally, all facing common challenges from climate change. There is an urgent need to establish an international organization dedicated to the sustainable development of islands. As the world's first international organization focused on zero-carbon islands, the International Zero-Carbon Islands Cooperation Organization aims to address climate change and promote sustainable development for islands, fostering international exchange and cooperation among its members. The organization will consist of a General Assembly, a Council, leadership, and a Secretariat. Its main activities include holding an annual meeting once a year and organizing a series of events such as zero-carbon island forums, dialogues, and roundtables. Membership will primarily include island nations, island city-related organizations, as well as social organizations, universities, research institutions, financial institutions, and enterprises in the fields of global ecology, environment, and climate change response.