Achieving a carbon-negative region through carbon sinks and reduction initiatives: A case study of a coastal bay

Regional carbon assessment is crucial for achieving carbon neutrality. However, challenges in data collection and the unverifiability of regional carbon emissions have led to a lack of verified assessments by recognized agencies. Most existing studies focused on carbon assessment of products, companies, or events, with little emphasis on verifying carbon emissions of regions, especially in coastal areas where significant economic activities occur, and large populations reside. This study attempts to conduct a regional carbon assessment for a coastal bay, Yanpu Bay, located in Zhejiang Province of China. The results show that, in 2021, Yanpu Bay had a net carbon emission of -8047 t CO₂e, which was verified by a third-party agency. This makes Yanpu Bay the first coastal bay in China to be officially recognized for achieving negative carbon emissions. The negative carbon was primarily due to forest and mangrove carbon sink, as well as a renewable energy project. On the other hand, carbon emissions were mainly generated from electricity consumption (60.45 %) and fossil fuel combustion (27.13 %). Furthermore, the verification has been conducted to improve the accuracy of regional carbon accounting. This study also proposes a framework that incorporated various stakeholders, such as local government, research team, and the third-party agency for regional carbon management. The research outcomes offer a scientific basis for evaluating regional carbon emissions and provide a practical case study of achieving negative carbon with rigorous verification.