China leads first international standard for karst ecosystem monitoring, boosting carbon sink accuracy

China has led the development of the world's first international standard for monitoring karst critical zones, issued by the International Organization for Standardization. Karst ecosystems cover about 15 percent of Earth's land surface and supply water to a quarter of the global population. The new standard provides a unified framework for monitoring water quality, carbon cycles, and ecological restoration in these fragile areas. The standard, developed with experts from seven countries, includes specific guidance on carbon sink calculations and data management. It aims to improve environmental assessments and support China's dual carbon goals of peaking emissions by 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2060. The framework also aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals for clean water and climate action. This is a practical step toward standardizing how countries measure carbon storage in karst landscapes, which have been hard to quantify due to their complex underground water systems. Better data means more accurate carbon accounting for both national inventories and carbon markets.