Join us to Start a Sustainable Journey
Youth Ambassadors' Voice at the United Nations Climate Change Conference
From 11 to 22 November, 2024, the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change took place in Baku, Azerbaijan. UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, in collaboration with GAUC and Tsinghua University, co-hosted events at COP29. 28 youth ambassadors from the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC) who formed a COP29 Youth Delegation joined the conference. Mercedes-Benz Star Fund has supported GAUC's youth climate actions over two years.
Voices from Chinese Climate Youth Leaders
Alice Ho, Chief Youth Officer of GAUC and leader of the GAUC COP29 Youth Delegation, noted, "I have observed that 'climate finance' is a hot topic, which plays a significant role in promoting the synergistic development of global climate governance and environmental protection."
She assisted in organizing the opening ceremony of the Alliance Corner, where 28 youth representatives from 10 countries engaged in lively 'collisions of thought' with experts and scholars, making her feel the youth's influence on climate issue decision-making.
Chen Dongjie, Chief Youth Officer of the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC) and the leader of the GAUC COP29 Youth Delegation, is also a member of the organizing committee for the 2024 "Youth Hackathon on Climate Change and Climate Disaster Risk Reduction " and a youth leader in climate change who has participated in UNESCO's climate change activities and discussions on the development of protected areas.
"Taking 'Urban Ecological Roaming and Nature Education' as an example, I shared the plan of the winning team from the 'Youth Climate Action and Disaster Risk Reduction Makers Activity', and I look forward to its implementation in the future!"
The project is supported by the Mercedes-Benz Star Fund's public welfare initiative.
Hu Yunche, Tsinghua University Xinya Academy, Xiuzhong Academy, Cross-engineering Major, President of the Student Tsinghua University Zero Carbon Future Association, and the Organizing Committee Leader of the 2024 "Global Youth Summit on Net-Zero Future "
"I participated in the 'Shaping a Greener Tomorrow' youth dialogue at the Alliance Corner, discussing the strengths and challenges of student organizations in promoting climate action."
"The Baku children dressed in plastic utensils, the youth who hope to plant a hundred thousand trees together, and the climate artists advocating for ocean protection have all left a deep impression on me."
Xue Yuhan, a student from Tsinghua University's Zhili Academy and the 2023 President of the Tsinghua University Student Zero Carbon Future Association, said:
"I am focusing on the widely discussed New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG) at the conference. The rational use of public funds and their collaborative mechanisms could become key to addressing climate issues."
"I organized a roundtable discussion at the Alliance Corner to explore how to better encourage climate action on campuses by combining social resources."
My Climate Serendipity
Alice Ho:
"My hometown, Hong Kong, has experienced disasters like heavy rainstorms, and I am well aware of the impact of climate change on daily life. This has led me to continuously participate in GAUC and Tsinghua Climate Institute activities, dedicating myself to the carbon neutrality process."
Xue Yuhan:
"In cross-cultural and interdisciplinary exchanges, I have felt the differences in people's perceptions of climate governance under different contexts and regional backgrounds. As a chemistry major, I hope to combine policy regulations with technological innovation to contribute my professional strength!"
Next Steps
Alice Ho: "Climate action is a 'sustainable' journey. I hope we can integrate our insights and experiences from COP29 into our daily lives and community building. I also hope to provide more training opportunities for young people to play a greater role in climate governance."
Xue Yuhan: "I want to promote exchanges between Chinese and foreign students, exploring different ways to disseminate climate change facts within the Chinese cultural context. I will also be deeply involved in carbon accounting research, doing more 'good deeds' for the Earth through factory, enterprise, and field practices!"
Hu Yunche: "I will pay more attention to the fields of climate adaptation and just transition, transforming the focus of global climate issues into the concerns of the youth through a combination of academic research and activities."
Chen Dongjie: "I want to join hands with more platform institutions to build a broader youth organization force and promote more socially meaningful cooperation projects to take root."
Special Preparations for COP29
Alice Ho: "We wore traditional costumes from various ethnic groups in China and 'visited' more than 20 national pavilions, showcasing traditional culture such as calligraphy and opera. Although our voices were hoarse from shouting, seeing everyone's enthusiastic smiles and surprised looks made it all worthwhile!"
The enthusiasm and responsibility shown by the youth during the conference are the most powerful forces towards a sustainable future. We also look forward to a sustainable and beautiful tomorrow with the youth.
About our project: "Accelerating Carbon Neutrality: Innovative Actions for Sustainable Development "
Since 2022, under the support by the Mercedes-Benz Star Fund and CYDF, UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia established deep collaboration with Tsinghua University. These parties, together, initiated and established a paradigm for cultivating innovative youth talent to promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This includes supporting youth climate change leaders to participate in the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, supporting youth to give a voice on the international stage of climate change governance, holding the "Global Youth Summit Zero Carbon Future" "Model United Nations Climate Change Conference," "Youth Climate Action and Disaster Risk Reduction Makers Activity," and carrying out volunteer teaching activities on themes such as "Climate Change and Climate Risk Mitigation and Prevention."
