Owing to limited land resources and unique ecosystems, islands face more serious ecological risks under the interference of climate change and human activities. In this study, selecting Zhoushan Island as the study area, a landscape ecological risk index model was constructed based on LULC (land use/land cover) data and the landscape ecological risks for Zhoushan Island from 2000 to 2020 were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the proportion of forest land and grassland remained above 70%, built-up land expanded from 52.67 km² to 123.52 km², and the beach area and ocean on the north side of the island decreased by 23.24 km² and 24.87 km², respectively; this was mainly converted into built-up land. (2) The number of landscape patches in Zhoushan Island decreased as the landscape ecological risk index decreased. The landscape ecological risk showed distinct spatial autocorrelation, with lowest-risk and medium-risk areas collectively accounting for 80% and higher-risk and highest-risk areas showing a decline. (3) The landscape ecological risks exhibited distinct spatiotemporal differences. Before 2010, the higher-risk and highest-risk areas were mainly distributed in the mudflat and ocean areas on the northern coast. After 2010, the higher-risk and highest-risk areas are mainly distributed in the central region, which comprises woodland, grassland, and built-up land.

According to the life-cycle assessment method, in this study, we took the traditional plate cage (TPC) mariculture and deep water wind wave-resistant cage (DWWWRC) mariculture of large yellow croaker in China as the research object. We counted and calculated the carbon footprint of the whole life cycle of large yellow croaker cultured in Zhoushan. By analyzing and comparing the advantages and disadvantages of the two according to a perspective of carbon emissions, we found that the carbon footprint of DWWWRC was smaller than that of TPC, which is more suitable for China’s large yellow croaker mariculture. We proposed corresponding measures to reduce carbon emissions, such as using clean energy, extending cage life, and improving feed utilization. This study fills the gap in the current research direction of the carbon footprint of large yellow croaker farming in China and provides strong technical support for the sustainable development of China’s large yellow croaker cage farming industry.

Assessments of the ecosystem service value (ESV) and the social cost of carbon (SCC) inform national and government management decisions in the areas of human well-being and climate change mitigation and adaptation, respectively. Studying the correlation between the two provides a theoretical basis for low-carbon and high-quality regional development, achieving economic decarbonization, and improving human well-being. In this study, we take Zhoushan Archipelago as a case study, consider the ESV and SCC in Zhoushan Archipelago during the period 2010–2020, analyze their spatial development characteristics, and analyze the correlation between the two in time and space. The findings indicate that, with only a 1.5% change, the overall ESV in the Zhoushan Archipelago fell between 2010 and 2020. Conversely, there was a 1604.01 × 10⁴ t increase in net carbon emissions and a quick 2452% increase in SCC. During the study period, a substantial positive association was found between ESV and SCC in the Zhoushan Archipelago, according to the global spatial correlation analysis of the two variables. It passed the test for p-value. This study presents a new potential way to solve the environmental and economic difficulties caused by climate change by providing a mechanism for quantitatively assessing the environment from the perspective of monetary worth. In order to improve the ecological security pattern and ease the burden of regional carbon emissions, it is vital to make use of regional advantages, maintain forests, and develop blue-carbon resources such as mudflats. It is a good idea to cooperate regionally with nearby metropolitan agglomerations. The study’s findings are crucial for advancing sustainable development planning in the Zhoushan Archipelago, both theoretically and practically.

Human activities have become so extensive that all ecosystems on the planet have been altered to some extent. The fate of humankind will be determined by how sustainable ecosystems and renewable resource species in them are managed. The implication of this is obvious: humanity must live within nature's carrying capacity. In recent years, we have recognized that economic growth depends on natural capital, the importance of identifying ourselves as a part of the international ecological economics community, and positive integration of economy and ecology. The aim of this paper is to describe a method for integrated analysis of economic growth and natural carrying capacity through linking the concept of ecological footprint with valuation of ecosystem services. When applied to China for the period 1987–2003, empirical evidence suggests that the Chinese economy surpassed its carrying capacity after 1992. Perhaps we should abandon our high-growth predilection and initiate the transition to a steady-state economy.

Island ecosystems are vulnerable, as natural disasters and inappropriate anthropogenic activities can easily disrupt the ecological balance, posing significant challenges to the delivery of ecosystem services. In order to evaluate the ecosystem service functions of the Zhoushan Archipelago, based on the InVEST model, the four services of water conservation, carbon storage, habitat quality, and soil conservation in the Zhoushan Archipelago in 2017, 2020, and 2023 were estimated, and the spatial pattern of comprehensive ecosystem service function was determined by principal component analysis. The results showed the following: (1) the spatial distribution of water conservation, carbon storage, habitat quality, and soil conservation values in 2017, 2020, and 2023 show the same trend, with high values distributed in the central areas of Zhoushan Island, Changtu Island, Taotao Island, and Qushan Island, and low values distributed in the coastal areas of Zhoushan Island, Yangshan Island, and Yushan Island; (2) land use types have a significant effect on four services. Trees, built areas, rangeland, and cropland were the primary contributors to these four ecosystem services; (3) from 2017 to 2023, the highly important areas and extremely important areas showed a decreasing trend. In 2023, the highly important areas and extremely important areas accounted for 17.29% and 2.33% of the total area, which are important for maintaining the virtuous cycle of the ecosystem. This study provides a scientific basis for the sustainable development of the island.

Municipal sustainability plans typically include laudable environmental goals, but they rarely explain the connection between these goals and a larger conception of sustainability. In this article, we examine one local sustainability plan, Philadelphia’s Greenworks, through a city-based, rather than per capita-based, ecological footprint (EF) analysis. Our objective is to theoretically establish the extent to which at least one of the items in Greenworks—to have 20% of the city’s electricity come from alternative energy sources—might reduce Philadelphia’s overall energy footprint if implemented within the municipal boundaries. By moving away from the idea that per capita energy footprints add up to a citywide energy footprint, we posit that a city can reduce its overall energy footprint by utilizing internal resources, even if the total land used for that respective energy were to increase. For many cities this will result in the use of renewables, such as solar, biogas, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and other creative solutions. By extending at least one component of Philadelphia’s sustainability plan through EF analysis, we provide a hypothetical example of how municipal sustainability goals might contribute to a larger goal of urban sustainability, at least in the limited sense that they become less reliant on outlying resources.