Photo: Courtesy of SZMS Nanshan Innovation School

On the afternoon of October 22, a sharing session titled "Climate Change and Youth Power" was held in Shenzhen, initiated by Arthur Li and Carter Li, students from SZMS Nanshan Innovation School. During the event, a climate change expert shared his knowledge and insights with the students. This marks yet another environmental public welfare activity in a series of initiatives and it follows in the steps of the expert's participation to COP28, and the initiative of two students who also spoke at a COP28-related event, encouraging more people to take action on climate change.

As a global advocate and practitioner of environmental sustainability, Wang Shi, founder of Vanke Group and chairman of the Vanke Foundation, has attended 14 consecutive UN Climate Change Conferences. He met the environmentally conscious Li brothers at last year's COP28. Accepting their invitation as the keynote speaker for this event, Wang shared his years of experience in mangrove protection, corporate ESG implementation, and zero-carbon campus development. Through engaging stories, he educated students about climate change and guided discussions on core climate issues through a Q&A format, encouraging students to consider active participation and integrate climate consciousness into daily life. The event included rapid-fire quiz sessions to stimulate students' interest in climate change. Before concluding, each student wrote their environmental protection commitments on the "Climate Action Wall," demonstrating their determination to take action on climate issues.

Photo: Courtesy of SZMS Nanshan Innovation School

The event was co-hosted by Arthur Li and Carter Li. In 2023, at the age of 12, they independently conducted a school survey on students' climate change awareness. Their creative thinking and actions to engage peers on climate issues earned them an invitation to speak as youth representatives at the "Canal Cities: Eye of the Climate Storm" side event during the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28). Their joint speech, titled "What Can We Do for Climate Change When We Are 12?" received a standing ovation, during which they outlined their future plans to influence their immediate environment and help their classmates become the most climate-aware group among their peers in Shenzhen.

Since returning from COP28, Arthur Li and Carter Li have consistently followed through with their plans, tracking climate change knowledge and information, and sharing with their classmates through various channels. In July 2024, at the inaugural "Chinese Youth Climate Action" launch meeting, they shared their COP28 experiences and continued to advocate for peer action in protecting our planet. They actively connected with "Biosphere 3," Shenzhen's zero-carbon community, organizing school visits to its carbon-neutral experimental park for hands-on experience with carbon neutrality and sustainable development concepts in daily life. This time, they proactively invited Wang Shi, their fellow COP28 participant, to share climate change insights at their school. Wang commended their active involvement, expressing hope that more young people would follow their example in transforming knowledge into willingness, and willingness into action, starting with small steps to innovate solutions for climate change and create a better future.

Arthur Li and Carter Li also expressed their hope to receive another invitation to this year's UN Climate Conference, where they can share the results of their year-long actions and continue encouraging more young people to take ownership in addressing climate change and contributing to the protection of our planet.