Stratified community resilience and governance in a zero-Carbon Island: Evidence from Changdao, China

Coastal communities face compounding risks from climate change and intensive nearshore development. This study examines how resilience perceptions, green behaviors, and participatory governance are stratified across social groups in Changdao, an island in eastern China undergoing a comprehensive zero‑carbon transition integrating seagrass restoration with emerging blue carbon finance. Drawing on a 2025 stratified survey ( N = 306) combined with interviews and policy analysis, we estimate multivariate models for resilience, green behavior, and participation to test four mechanisms: information accessibility, institutional trust, social capital, and ecological experience. Education and institutional trust emerge as the strongest predictors of perceived resilience, while direct ecological experience most consistently drives observed green behavior. Information exposure and group identity (resident versus non-resident) show weak or null effects unless coupled with credible governance and practical opportunities for engagement. Everyday participation remains rare, reflecting limited channels for meaningful involvement and material benefit, particularly among visitors and seasonal workers. These findings suggest that translating policy ambition into everyday practice requires transparent benefit-sharing, visible feedback on ecological outcomes, and institutionalized participation pathways tailored to both locals and migrants. • Social stratification shapes resilience perceptions and behaviors in island climate transitions. • Trust and education predict resilience; direct experience drives green action. • Information alone shows weak effects without credible governance and participation channels. • Very limited public participation reflects structural features of China's policy model. • Blue carbon awareness remains low despite extensive seagrass restoration efforts.