CHINA / SOCIETY
Global youth contribute to global climate governance via action a week ahead of COP27
Published: Oct 31, 2022 08:49 PM
This photo taken on Oct. 4, 2022 shows wind turbines provided by China's Goldwind in Chaiyaphum, Thailand. The Chaiyaphum wind farm hosts 32 of China's Goldwind wind turbines with a total capacity of 80 MW and is operated by EGCO, a major energy producer affiliated to the largest state utility Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.(Photo: Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 4, 2022 shows wind turbines provided by China's Goldwind in Chaiyaphum, Thailand. The Chaiyaphum wind farm hosts 32 of China's Goldwind wind turbines with a total capacity of 80 MW and is operated by EGCO, a major energy producer affiliated to the largest state utility Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.(Photo: Xinhua)


One week ahead of COP27, the Global Youth Climate Week kicked off, aiming to contribute a mechanism for global climate governance by convening climate action initiated by the youth worldwide, to help them articulate their joint climate action dedication together, and to prepare them to be future leaders in building a net-zero future shared by all.

Over 100 institutions, organizations, and networks from six continents jointly launched the Global Youth Climate Week on Monday.

The event is usually hosted a week before the COPs. COP27, or the 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), will take place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, from November 6 to 18.

Promoting carbon neutrality has been a global trend, which involves more than 130 countries and regions, 88 percent of the carbon emission, and 95 percent of the world's population, Xie Zhenhua, China's special envoy for climate change, pointed out at the opening ceremony on Monday. 

He emphasized multilateralism, urging that the Paris Agreement to be fully implemented by all parties.

In his speech, Xie also encouraged the youth to recognize global trends and find solutions in tackling climate change to make contributions toward the global goal of carbon neutrality. 

"The geological and industrial diversity of the co-initiators reflects the commitment of multi-stakeholders to conquering the climate challenge," said Yang Bin, vice president of Tsinghua University and the chair of the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC) Executive Committee. "That commitment is what the world needs in this critical time."

Within a month, over 100 co-initiators from six continents are on board to back climate action proposed by the youth consisting of participants from a variety of backgrounds, including academic institutions and think tanks, renowned brands from private sector, media agencies, charities, international and regional organizations, NGOs, and the civil society, the Global Times learned. 

The inaugural week meant to last for five days and conclude on November 4 features diversified events organized by its co-initiators to offer different perspectives through which the youth can approach the challenge of climate change as well as the Global Youth Summit on Net-Zero Future, a youth-led event organized by the GAUC Global Youth Ambassadors to present their interdisciplinary approach to said challenges.

Liu Lici contributed to the story