At the Green and Sustainable Development Forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) from April 28 to 30, the host city Ningbo presented a practical case for how environmental protection can support economic growth rather than limit it.

That approach is visible first in how Ningbo has rebuilt its natural environment. In Beilun district's Meishan Bay, once affected by polluted water and invasive cordgrass, long-term restoration has revived coastal ecosystems and improved water quality. More than 500 species have now been recorded in the area, which has also become a major leisure destination attracting more than 2 million visitors each year.

Ningbo has since extended that ecological foundation into new economic activity. In Ninghai county, disused mountain paths have been turned into a hiking trail network, helping grow outdoor tourism and sports equipment manufacturing. In Xiangshan county, coastal conservation has supported marine tourism and blue-carbon trading, linking healthier shorelines with new commercial value.

The same logic is shaping agriculture. In Fenghua district, a digital farming system that combines 5G, IoT, and agricultural recycling processes more than 5,000 metric tons of farm waste a year while increasing village incomes. In Yuyao city, farmers have adopted an integrated system that raises soft-shelled turtles in water bamboo fields, improving land use efficiency and boosting returns.

Even heavy industry has been brought into the transition. In Zhenhai district, a petrochemical complex has been recognized as a national zero-waste industrial park, where restored wetlands now support egret habitats alongside industrial production.

Ningbo's message at the forum was clear: green development is most durable when it improves both the environment and the local economy.