Youth encouraged to join climate change initiative

The first Chinese Youth Action on Climate Change initiative was officially launched recently at the China Meteorological Administration in Beijing.

The event was co-sponsored by the United Nations Children's Fund for China, the National Center for Climate Change Strategy Research and International Cooperation, and the Chinese Meteorological Society. It aimed to collect cases on climate action from teenagers across the country and present them at this year's United Nations Climate Change Conference, or the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, more commonly known as COP29, which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

In order to inspire more teenagers, twin brothers Arthur Li Pingsen and Carter Li Pinghang from Shenzhen, Guangdong province, were invited to the launch ceremony.

They shared insights from a survey they conducted on teenagers' perceptions of climate change and their experiences from COP28 held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The brothers, aged 13, have been engaged in charitable activities from a young age and hold a deep passion for environmental conservation.

Last year, they crafted a "Climate Change Awareness" questionnaire, distributing it among students in grades 6-12 at their school to gauge awareness levels. Out of 89 valid responses received, they meticulously analyzed the data and compiled a comprehensive report, which was well-received at COP28. They also presented a keynote speech titled "What can we do for climate change at 12 years old" at a meeting held on the sidelines of the conference.

Their survey revealed that although 25 percent of students were unaware of climate change's impacts, nearly 90 percent of them understood the correlation between carbon dioxide emissions and climate efforts. In their ongoing efforts, they plan to stay updated on climate change developments and continue sharing insights with their peers.

At the recent ceremony, Carter said that they have continued their survey in their school and planned to invite experts to give lectures at the school to encourage more peers to join efforts to cope with climate change.

Arthur said: "To cope with climate change, what we can do is to make an impact on our own small world. We will make plans and work hard to achieve our goals — to help our classmates become the most knowledgeable among their peers in Shenzhen when it comes to climate change."

Looking ahead, the brothers aspire to present their project results at COP29.

Attendees praised the brothers' initiative and encouraged young people to emulate their example by actively engaging in the Chinese Youth Action on Climate Change movement to contribute their skills and energies toward climate change mitigation, carbon neutrality and environmental preservation.

Amakobe Sande, UNICEF Representative for China, said at the ceremony: "China has the second-largest youth population in the world. Imagine the potential if everyone can take action on climate change."