As global leaders gear up for the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) in Kenya this February, a quiet revolution in China’s coastal city of Xiamen offers hope for tackling climate challenges. Meet Yundang Lake—once a toxic ‘dead zone,’ now a shimmering oasis dubbed the ‘city’s drawing room’!
Rewind to the 1980s: Industrial waste and sewage turned this historic fishing hub into a smelly, garbage-choked nightmare. ‘The water was poison,’ locals recall. But Xiamen didn’t just cry over polluted water—they acted. Factories were moved, seawater pumped in, and mangrove forests replanted. Residents like retiree Chen Yajin became ‘lake guardians,’ patrolling the waters and reporting issues.
Fast-forward 30+ years: Clear waters now host thriving fish populations, while joggers and tourists flock to lakeside trails. ‘This is proof that communities and governments can team up to heal nature,’ says Chen.
China’s environment ministry calls Yundang a blueprint for cities worldwide. With UNEA-6 focusing on multilateral climate action, this lakeside comeback story shows how local grit can fuel global change.
Meet Yundang Lake—once a toxic ‘dead zone,’ now a shimmering oasis dubbed the ‘city’s drawing room’!
Rewind to the 1980s: Industrial waste and sewage turned this historic fishing hub into a smelly, garbage-choked nightmare. ‘The water was poison,’ locals recall. But Xiamen didn’t just cry over polluted water—they acted. Factories were moved, seawater pumped in, and mangrove forests replanted. Residents like retiree Chen Yajin became ‘lake guardians,’ patrolling the waters and reporting issues. 
