Dongju Island in Dinghai district, Zhoushan boasts an excellent ecological environment. [Photo/WeChat account: zjzsqdxq]

The air quality in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province secured the third place in the country in 2023, as recently announced by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

The average PM2.5 concentration in the air from January to December in 2023 was 17 micrograms per cubic meter, with an excellent air quality rate of 96.7 percent.

Zhoushan's surface water and drinking water sources achieved a 100 percent compliance rate for water quality standards, while the safety utilization rate of key construction land and the harmless disposal rate of hazardous waste both reached 100 percent.

These successes can be attributed to a series of actions taken by local authorities, including piloting zero-waste cities in Dinghai district and Shengsi county, and launching the coordinated management of port and vessel pollutants.

Authorities also formulated measures for managing blue carbon trading and signed the first intention agreement for marine carbon sequestration trading.