Locations
UNDP Resident Representative in China, Beate Trankmann, delivered opening remarks at the launch of the Green and Digital Innovation Project in Baoting, China
Mr. Mu Kerui (穆克瑞书记), Secretary of the Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County Party Committee
Ms. Li Shuyin (李抒音副主任), Deputy Director CICETE, Ministry of Commerce
Mr. Ma Shuo (马烁副主任), Deputy Director of the Executive Bureau, Shenzhen Honghai Clean Technology Research Institute
早上好。非常高兴再次来到海南保亭与大家相聚。仅仅在宣布我们合作三个月后，我怀着无比喜悦的心情重返这里，签署并启动绿色与数 字创新合作项目 (GDIP)。
(Good morning. It is a pleasure to join you again here in Baoting, Hainan and it is with great delight that I am returning merely three months after announcing our partnership to now sign and launch of the Green and Digital Innovation Cooperation Project (GDIP). )
Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time. Its impacts are no longer distant threats—they are here, and they are happening now.
Indeed, in the Asia-Pacific Region, while all 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals are off track, a recent UN report shows that SDG 13 on Climate Action in particular has seen a concerning regression overall, driven by rising GHG emissions and increasing climate-related disasters. [1]
And, the impacts don’t affect everyone equally. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and other consequences of a warming climate disproportionately hurt vulnerable communities, particularly in oceanic and island regions just like Hainan.
Tackling this challenge will require innovative and comprehensive approaches to advance green and inclusive development, addressing both the environmental and human aspects of the climate crisis.
To that end, the establishment of the China-EU Green and Digital Innovation Zone here in Baoting last year was a critical step, serving as a hub for fostering collaboration on climate action between China and the EU.
"From promoting low-carbon lifestyles to supporting women farmers in adopting eco-friendly practices, this project will place people at the center of its mission."
The partnership project between Baoting and UNDP that we are formalizing today, will be a part of this broader initiative, and will focus on three key areas:
First, it will explore innovative solutions including both technology-powered, and nature-based solutions to reduce carbon emissions, improve resource efficiency, and strengthen climate-resilience in island and coastal areas and regions. Baoting, with its unique ecological and cultural heritage, is an ideal location to pilot and demonstrate how cutting-edge innovations can be applied in real-world settings.
Second, the project will work to advance both domestic and international cooperation on climate change. This is a global crisis, and as such, it cannot be addressed by any single country or community alone.
Recognizing this, the project will establish the "UNDP-China Ocean and Island Climate and Sustainable Development Innovation Lab"—a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchanges on innovative approaches to fight climate change and its impact on coastal communities. This center will bring together governments, businesses, researchers, and civil society to share solutions, align efforts, and drive collective action. Indeed, the advancements being pioneered in Baoting can provide important lessons on climate adaptation that can be shared with other regions facing similar challenges, and vice-versa.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the project will look to empower people. While technological solutions to combat climate change show great potential, they must also be inclusive, to avoid widening existing divides, or opening up new ones. Progress towards a green, low-carbon future will not mean anything if it results in people being left behind.
Our priority will therefore be on ensuring that women, youth, and marginalized groups are not only beneficiaries, but also active participants in shaping the green transition. From promoting low-carbon lifestyles to supporting women farmers in adopting eco-friendly practices, this project will place people at the center of its mission.
Moving forward, realizing these goals will require the efforts of all stakeholders working together. At UNDP, we have always seen partnerships as a process of co-creation, and we are committing to drawing on our global networks, experience, and expertise in sustainable development to collectively drive forward innovation for climate resilience.
最后，我要感谢我们的合作伙伴——保亭黎族苗族自治县政府，感谢你们的领导力与资金支持。同时，我也要感谢交流中心（CICETE）和深研院对项目的贡献。此外，我还要感谢海研院提供的技术支持。
(In closing, I would like thank our partners, the Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County Government for their leadership and funding support as well as the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE), and the Shenzhen Honghai Clean Technology Research Institute for their contributions to this important initiative. I would also like to thank the Hainan Ningyuan Institute for Climate and Sustainable Development for providing their technical expertise.)
Today marks an important step forward in our shared commitment to addressing climate change and advancing sustainable development for all. But it is only the beginning. In the future, I look forward to witnessing the transformative impact of the Green and Digital Innovation Cooperation Project here in Baoting and beyond.
Together, we can develop the solutions to help communities thrive, ecosystems flourish, and economies grow sustainably.
我们非常期待与各位携手，为保亭的人民、为我们的地球，也为子孙后代，共同将这一愿景变为现实。
(We are excited to join hands with you to make this vision a reality—for the people of Baoting, for the planet, and for generations to come.)
Thank you.
[1] Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2025 https://www.unescap.org/kp/2025/asia-and-pacific-sdg-progress-report-2025
