From November 30th to December 12nd, 2023, the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. From December 3rd to December 6th, supported by the “Global Environmental Governance” project of the Academic Affairs Office of Renmin University of China, a delegation comprising Associate Prof. WANG Ke from the School of Environment & Natural Resources of Renmin University of China and two students from the Mingde Environment “Economics-Science” Elite Talent Experimental Class, including undergraduate students SHAN Wenyann from the class of 2021 and WANG Meihan from the class of 2022, visited the Dubai Expo City in the United Arab Emirates. They attended COP28 as youth observers, participated in climate negotiations, visited various thematic pavilions, and explored national Pavilions from different countries.

During the four-day itinerary, the two students attended informal negotiations on major issues such as the first global stocktake and adaptation funds, experienced the atmosphere of international climate negotiations, and participated debates on key issues among various parties. At the China Pavilion, they supported side events and participated in receptions, engaging in exchanges and discussions with foreign delegates, witnessing the world’s attention to and recognition of China’s climate actions. They also visited side events areas of the energy and conservation sectors, where he exchanged views with representatives from major participating organizations and gained insights into various aspects related to energy transition and nature-based solutions. Furthermore, they visited exhibition halls related to sustainable development within the Dubai Expo City, experiencing the power of climate change advocacy and education. As the saying goes, “actions speak louder than words”. The rich and diverse experiences not only broadened the students’ horizons but also strengthened their determination to translate their beliefs into actions. We expect that in the near future, these students will be able to contribute their youthful energy to the building of a beautiful China on a broader stage.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade XI Jinping at its core has placed ecological civilization construction in a crucial strategic position in governing the country and insisted on promoting the overall layout of the “Five-Sphere Integrated Plan” in an integrated manner. Building a beautiful China, accelerating the modernization of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, fulfilling the dual carbon commitment and addressing global climate change have a bearing on the livelihood and well-being of 1.4 billion Chinese people. The School of Environment & Natural Resources has consistently guided its work by XI Jinping’s ecological civilization ideology, adhering to the high-level construction of disciplines to support high-level talent cultivation, fully aligning with national strategic needs, aiming to deepen reform comprehensively and expand and enrich the paths and measures of first-class talent cultivation. The School of Environment & Natural Resources strives to enhance the internationalization level of talent cultivation, gradually forms a new situation of continuous innovation in cultivation modes, continuous improvement in cultivation quality, and the emergence of top-notch talents, and aims to excel in the field of ecological civilization talent cultivation, highlighting its characteristics and achievements. The organization of outstanding students from the Mingde Environment “Economics-Science” Elite Talent Experimental Class to observe and learn on-site aims to explore opportunities and challenges related to energy transformation and sustainable development from various perspectives such as negotiations, side events, and thematic activities. This initiative helps students gain a broader understanding of climate change-related issues from a multidisciplinary perspective, establish a comprehensive international mindset in real-world scenarios, enhance their interdisciplinary thinking abilities, inspire them to transform their enthusiasm into practical actions, encourage them to shoulder the responsibilities given by the times and contribute their youthful vigor to the construction of a clean and beautiful world, and to write a new chapter in the construction of ecological civilization in the new era.

SHAN Wenyan’s research notes at COP28

[Contribution of Youth to Addressing Climate Change at the Chinese Pavilion in the Blue Zone]

On December 3rd, the first day the Chinese Pavilion in the Blue Zone officially opened to all delegates, we assisted with the side event organized by the “Polar Future” civilian glacier monitoring organization and the delegation from the Guangdong Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, starting from 2:30 PM that afternoon. Our responsibilities included distributing promotional materials, souvenirs, and interpretation tools to delegates interested in the side event, briefing them on the event’s content and schedule, inviting them to attend sessions at the Chinese Pavilion, and addressing any inquiries they had regarding the Chinese Pavilion and China’s climate actions.

(Interacting with foreign guests at the reception desk of the Chinese Pavilion)

Under the guidance of the Climate Change Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Publicity and Education Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, in collaboration with the NGO “Polar Future”, hosted a side event entitled “Glacial Memory: Witnessing the Climate Action Crisis”. The event invited representatives from government departments, research institutes, enterprises, media, and NGOs to engage in in-depth discussions on the crisis of glacier melting, climate change mitigation actions, and issued the “Take Positive Action on Climate Change, Protect Global Glaciers” initiative. With a focus on glaciers, this side event attracted considerable attention from foreign delegates. Many of them expressed that prior to this event, they had limited knowledge of China’s efforts in glacier protection and glacier change monitoring . It was their first time seeing China’s efforts in glacier research and education from the perspectives of various stakeholders. While expressing their novelty and amazement, they also conveyed their admiration and appreciation for China’s actions.

The side event entitled “Guangdong Climate Change Action Plan”, hosted by the Guangdong delegation to COP28, started at 4.30pm. This event introduced to the international community a series of innovative initiatives and practical actions taken by Guangdong since 2010 to address climate change and promote low-carbon development, vividly showcasing the remarkable achievements in green and low-carbon development at the provincial level in China. Representatives from governments, NGOs, and enterprises from both China and abroad were invited to deliver keynote speeches on topics such as industrial restructuring, corporate energy-saving and carbon reduction, and energy technology innovation. This event attracted many delegates interested in learning from the experiences of pollution reduction and carbon mitigation in China’s economically developed regions. As a native of Guangzhou, I am immensely proud that my hometown is the first province to host a regional thematic side event at the COP28 China Pavilion.

From 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., for nearly five hours, the two of us hardly had a moment to rest because there were just too many delegates attending the event—Meihan was busy managing the interpretation equipment inside the venue, almost in a frenzy, and didn’t even have time to take photos of the event; meanwhile, I engaged in conversations with nearly 100 Chinese and foreign delegates (the majority being foreign representatives) outside the venue. Surprisingly, I managed to handle such intense English communication quite comfortably. In this somewhat chaotic afternoon, I received a cherished pin from the Colombian delegate and discussed the significance of their national bird, the hummingbird; I had a lively conversation with an Indian friend for nearly 20 minutes studying biodiversity resource management at the University of Oxford, discussing stereotypes about “East Asian elites”; I helped two European delegates, who were extremely fascinated by pandas and Chinese culture, acquired panda canvas bags that were in high demand and had already stopped being distributed; I discussed Central African agricultural cooperation and new energy infrastructure with the delegate from Niger; I collaborated with a scholar from the University of Tokyo to devise and optimize the publicity strategy for the side event agenda; I conducted Mandarin teaching activities with Chinese learners from the United States, Malaysia, and Somalia; although I initially directed a UN official to the wrong location for the side event, I managed to compensate by presenting him with a souvenir.

(The Moroccan high school student learning Chinese whom I met through side event activities)

As two observers with no prior knowledge of the functioning mechanisms of the conference area and its various information channels, we were spontaneously pulled into the forefront of the reception at the China Pavilion in the Blue Zone. We exceeded expectations and did a relatively good job despite being new and unable to provide accurate help with much of the information.We found ourselves engaged in a continuous stream of face-to-face interactions, ranging from profound to superficial, from lengthy to brief. Most importantly, witnessing the intense interest and keen attention from the international community towards China gave us a new understanding of China’s role as a major player on the global stage.

(After concluding a busy afternoon, we got a sash adorned with numerous badges and received warm praise and recognition from representatives of various countries for China’s climate actions)

[Heading to the negotiation site to experience the authentic atmosphere of climate negotiations]

Various thematic negotiations closely related to the international climate process took place during the COP. In the Blue Zone of Dubai Expo City, there were over 30 large meeting rooms spread over areas B1 and B2 for hosting various informal negotiation sessions. The details of conference documents crucial to the final outcomes of the conference and the negotiations primarily occurred during these informal sessions. Additionally, the B8 area in the Blue Zone comprised three auditoriums for hosting opening and closing ceremonies, high-level meetings, and plenary sessions.

(Inside Negotiation Area B1)

Informal consultations were among the most prominent activities during the COP, where negotiating representatives from various parties discussed specific provisions of organizational reports, draft agendas, or agreements under the guidance and coordination of co-chairs. Each informal consultation focused on a specific report, draft, or provision, with negotiators expressing their positions and viewpoints based on the prescribed text and assessing or responding to the views of other parties.

(Observer Listening Room)

At COP28, the main topics of interestincluded the Loss and Damage Fund, the First Global Stocktake, and Mitigation and Adaptation Funds. Over the course of four days, we primarily attended four informal consultations on these three topics in the B1 area.

The first agenda item reached consensus on the first day of the conference, with both developed and developing countries agreeing to establish the “Loss and Damage Fund” to provide funding for developing countries affected by climate disasters for recovery and reconstruction. Among them, the United Arab Emirates pledged $100 million, the European Union pledged €225 million (with Germany contributing €92 million), the United Kingdom £60 million (£40 million directly to the fund and £20 million for bilateral projects), the United States $17.5 million, and Japan $10 million. While the total contribution remained relatively insignificant compared to the needs of developing countries, and many developed countries faced significant obstacles in obtaining fiscal approval from their domestic legislative bodies, there was uncertainty regarding whether the funds would ultimately be injected into the fund. Nonetheless, this represented a groundbreaking resolution, marking the most significant progress in negotiations on loss and damage in the history of COP.

(Taking notes during the meetings in the Observer Listening Room)

The second agenda item—the First Global Stocktake—was the most critical issue of this COP, and the outcomes related to it were considered to be the most significant since the Paris Agreement. On December 5th, the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) co-chairs released a draft for the First Global Stocktake, spanning 24 pages with 193 items and nearly 200 paragraphs. This draft was the result of multiple high-level meetings, contact group sessions, and informal consultations. Negotiations on this draft were expected to continue until the final days of the conference, and the draft itself would become the core document of the event. However, the wording of the draft is dominated by, leading to considerable uncertainty about the agreement’s final outcome. Important issues such as historical responsibilities of developed countries, disparities in mitigation implementation, and funding gaps were emphasized in the draft, and the specific wording of these contents became the main point of contention among delegates. This characteristic of “arguing over every word” made the negotiations somewhat akin to playing a “word game”. One of the most controversial clauses concerned the use of fossil fuels, specifically whether to “phase out” or “phase down” their usage. Although it may seem like a minor distinction, the implications behind each term are significantly different. Given that the host country of the conference, the United Arab Emirates, is a core member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), it was anticipated that consensus on this issue would be difficult to achieve.

(A screenshot of section 35(c) of the draft for the First Global Stocktake)

The third agenda item focused on Mitigation and Adaptation Funds. During the four-day observation period, we mainly observed the negotiations related to adaptation funds, which was one of the most contentious issues between developed and developing countries. For instance, developing countries argued that the contributors should be developed nations because their historical emissions caused the negative externalities of climate change, thus they have the responsibility to provide funds to help impacted developing countries adapt to climate change. Additionally, the main form of funds should be grants to alleviate the debt burden of developing countries. The amount of funds allocated for mitigation and adaptation should be balanced and the existing adaptation funds should be at least doubled. Transparency and review mechanisms for funds should not be overly stringent and should respect the autonomy of each country in the use of funds. On the other hand, developed countries generally avoided the issue of “balancing mitigation and adaptation” and argued that other capable countries should also contribute. The actual use and destination of adaptation funds need to be transparent, with comprehensive evaluation and review mechanisms in place. Private sector should be included to diversify the sources and forms of funds. The focus should not be on the amount of funds provided but rather on the effectiveness of the funds. It could be seen that once funds were involved, the discussions mainly revolved around who contributed, how to contributed, how much to contributed, and the reporting mechanisms after contribution. These issues were closely linked to the basic national conditions and political positions of different countries. Therefore, the views of various parties on this issue were distinct, making it difficult to reconcile conflicts. Significant concessions were needed from both sides to reach a consensus. As of our return on December 7th, substantive consensus on adaptation funds had not been reached.

(Chinese negotiators expressed the national position on adaptation funds)

Overall, during the four days of negotiation observation, what we witnessed was largely a frustrating deadlock. Representatives from all sides either stuck to their own narratives, focusing solely on presenting their positions without commenting on those of other parties, or engaged in prolonged disputes over the wording of a single clause, consuming the entirety of the meeting time. Some avoided contentious issues altogether, repeatedly reiterating the same consensus, leading to meetings that should have broken through limitations and reached new agreements instead stagnating in repetitive discussions. While we questioned the inefficiency of climate negotiations, often characterized by rhetoric rather than concrete action, from another perspective, ensuring equal speaking and voting rights for every country and ensuring that adopted clauses are applicable to each party may require sacrificing negotiation efficiency and specificity. After all, without the COP negotiation platform, how would the least developed and most vulnerable countries voice their concerns and influence international action? How would we coordinate and unify global climate action to devise future solutions for our shared destiny?

(Taking a group photo holding up our “Observer” seat placards after the conclusion of the session)

[Reflections sharing]

COP felt like a giant crucible operating at full speed for two weeks straight, where different viewpoints clashed fiercely. Rational and irrational appeals alike were showcased here, alongside splendid propaganda and practical exchanges. There were stories, realities, visions, setbacks, theatrics, and sincerity. Such diverse chaos showcased both the essence of the issues and the vitality of problem-solving. Countless strands of energy intertwined to form a colorful gathering. Negotiations were just the tip of the iceberg at COP; beyond negotiations lay a much broader landscape.

I thought COP would provide me with many answers. However, after experiencing it, I realized it presented me with many questions—and the answers would require continuous exploration through further learning and practice. When communicating with foreign delegates, they would often express surprise upon learning we were university students and say, “This is your first COP, right? Hope you enjoy it!” Indeed, we did our best to embrace the various inspirations brought by the perspective of young observers and truly “enjoyed” our first COP experience. The field of climate change is vast, and we cannot grasp it entirely. However, what we can do is approach it with an open, inclusive, and objective mindset, to find areas worth exploring further in our careers. Then, we can make our humble contributions to this complex issue that concerns the present and future of all humanity.

Perhaps many years later, when I look back on the COP28, I may still discover the seed it planted in my heart, representing ideals, beliefs, and actions, and preserve the original intention of truly seeing problems, daring to explore them, and dedicating oneself to solving them. I am deeply grateful to the school, the college, and the Elite Talent training program for providing us with this invaluable opportunity. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to the teachers and senior classmates for their guidance and care before, during, and after the journey. I hope our initial exploration can become a beacon lighting the way for more junior students to think and act in the field of climate change. I look forward to seeing more friends participating in COP in the future! Goodbye, Dubai!

Meihan Wang’s research notes at COP28

[Exploring the side event area to gain insights from various perspectives on climate change]

Within the B2-B7 zones of the Expo City’s Blue Zone, numerous pavilions were distributed. Apart from the conventional national corners, regional alliances, and international organizations, there were also dedicated thematic areas, including the Energy Hub, Nature Hub, Food and Health Hub, Gender and Youth Hub, among others. Considering that energy transition remained one of the hot topics at this COP, we delved into the Energy Hub, engaging in insightful discussions with officials from various major energy organizations on topics such as energy transition.

(Appearance of the Energy Hub’s slogans)

Currently, the excessive use of fossil fuels causing global warming has become one of the significant threats to the safety of human life and property worldwide. Therefore, there is a need for an energy structural transformation to achieve a smooth transition from fossil fuels to new energy sources. This issue sparked heated discussions during COP26, but ultimately, the negotiations failed due to the lack of consensus on the “phase out” and “phase down” approaches. Given that the host country of this COP is the United Arab Emirates, which relies heavily on oil exports, debates on energy transition permeated both inside and outside the venue. In fact, the debate between “phase out” and “phase down” reflects the critical issue of energy structural transformation: how to achieve fair evolution. It is necessary to consider the climate crisis, reduce carbon emissions, and strive to achieve the goal of limiting the temperature rise to no more than 1.5°C while ensuring that those dependent on fossil fuels can find sustainable livelihoods. Considering both factors, perhaps a reasonable transition model is “clean energy development+green application of fossil fuels”.

(At the outdoor area of COP28, climate action organizations advocating for the “just phasing out of fossil fuels” conducted promotional activities on related topics)

Our observations in the Energy Hub corroborated our viewpoint. Many businesses presented feasible solutions for the development of new energy sources. Currently, widely used technologies include wind power, hydroelectric power, photovoltaic power, and others. However, the common issue with these technologies is their lack of stability, which cannot meet the demands of grid transmission. Therefore, many enterprises are dedicated to combining various transmission methods to meet grid requirements or converting discontinuous electrical energy into storable forms for application. More innovative approaches include hydrogen power and nuclear power, which are more environmentally friendly and sustainable but come with higher costs and are mostly in the exploratory trial stage.

Regarding issues related to fossil fuels, answers were provided by OPEC officials. While clean transition is the general trend, proposing to ban fossil fuels in the short term is not very realistic at this stage. Fossil fuels currently have the lowest application costs, relatively small initial infrastructure investments, and are deeply integrated into various aspects of our lives, from large-scale transportation to everyday products like mineral water bottles, all of which require the participation of fossil fuels in their production. Currently, OPEC is actively exploring emission reduction methods, hoping to mitigate the impacts of fossil fuel usage through technologies like carbon capture.

Furthermore, if we step outside the measurement standards of carbon emissions during usage and assess from a lifecycle perspective, an interesting phenomenon can be observed: some so-called clean energy sources are not as environmentally friendly as commonly imagined. Yet, this seems to be an area that many new energy organizations in the energy sector avoid discussing in their promotion. Take wind power, for example. In the manufacturing process, the production of blade coatings generates many harmful gases, and the carbon emissions during steel smelting are alarming. During application, the pure white blades may lead to increased collision rates among birds as they cannot discern them. Additionally, the rotation of the turbine disrupts the micro-circulation process in the surrounding environment, exacerbating local land desertification. Considering the disposal process, the current lifespan of wind turbines is mostly short, and recycling efficiency is poor. Similar issues exist in photovoltaic power generation. The exposure of solar panels leads to dust accumulation, affecting power generation efficiency and reducing the lifespan. Taking into account various factors, although the germination of the new energy transformation has already begun, continuous efforts are still required.

In addition to the core Energy Hub, we primarily explored the Nature Hub. Here, dozens of internationally renowned nature conservation non-governmental organizations or national alliances were gathered. They are dedicated to studying the mutual multiple impacts between the natural environment and climate change, exploring nature-based solutions in the field of climate change, and promoting sustainable development for harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. After discussions with officials from three major international organizations, we discovered that in addressing climate change actions, we often focus solely on humans or consider humans as the main subjects of mitigation and adaptation, overlooking the voiceless nature. However, in reality, natural ecosystems, like human societies, also significantly respond to climate change and carry boundless wisdom for mitigating and adapting to climate change.

(Representatives in distinctive costumes)

At the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), we were immediately drawn to the prominent slogan “Unite for Nature”. As a species conservation organization, IUCN primarily focuses on the intersection between climate change and biodiversity. Climate change significantly affects habitat quality, leading to a decline in biodiversity, which in turn hampers climate change adaptation efforts. Therefore, changes in biodiversity can serve as a crucial indicator to assess whether a climate adaptation strategy is nature-friendly and has comprehensive benefits. At COP27, parties called for greater consideration of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), which offer diverse mitigation or adaptation benefits at lower costs, benefiting both nature conservation and human development. However, there is currently no clear consensus on the specific definition of NbS within the international community, and many initiatives labeled as NbS, such as tree planting or artificial wetland construction, have actually caused ecological damage due to factors like monoculture tree species and irresponsible construction practices. In response, IUCN has developed a set of criteria to evaluate whether a certain approach qualifies as NbS, with one core criterion being “positive net biodiversity benefits”, and one of the quantifiable indicators of this benefit being “percentage change in the number of resident species after the implementation of the project”. Based on these standards, a series of NbS initiatives worthy of promotion have been identified, serving as climate change solutions that foster symbiotic relationships between humans and nature. It is hoped that more NbS initiatives will play a significant role in climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, promoting diverse improvements in welfare throughout the climate change response process.

(Position display at the IUCN booth)

Outside organizations like the IUCN, the Nature Hub also featured dedicated areas highlighting different ecosystems to draw attention to some ecosystems that are often overlooked, such as the oceans and the cryosphere. Concerning the oceans, while we may be aware that climate change leads to rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and disruption of marine ecosystems, we often overlook the insights the oceans can provide regarding climate change. In fact, the oceans themselves offer significant solutions—mangroves, for instance, are excellent for coastal ecosystem restoration and have substantial adaptation benefits; maritime transport represents the largest and least carbon-emitting mode of transportation with the lowest average costs, and increased use of maritime transport can significantly reduce the carbon intensity of the transportation sector; promoting sustainable fisheries not only protects marine ecosystems but also sustains fishery yields, providing a greener and lower-carbon source of high-quality protein for more people than traditional livestock farming...

(Marine Corner in the Nature Hub)

Similar understandings also apply to the cryosphere. Climate change has accelerated the melting of sea ice and glaciers, and scientists are exploring the transmission relationship between melting ice caps and rising sea levels. For instance, they are investigating under which warming scenarios the melting of ice caps will likely cause a certain percentage of coastal land to be submerged within a certain number of years. Additionally, fixed-point monitoring of glaciers has become one of the most commonly used methods for monitoring climate change. Furthermore, using flagship species of the cryosphere such as polar bears or penguins as intermediaries to promote awareness of climate change has become a very intuitive and widely used method of communication. The disappearance of the polar ice caps also affects the rate of climate change, and research is attempting to explore the exact mechanisms of this impact and quantify it, such as how much disappearance of white land will exacerbate the warming effect of the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions.

(A study showcasing the impact of glacier melting on sea level rise in the cryosphere)

In the face of human-induced climate change, nature has been subjected to unprecedented damage, prompting us to take stronger action to protect it. When designed appropriately, nature conservation is actually beneficial to humanity itself. Every life, every ecosystem, is a universe unto itself—hence, it’s crucial to listen more to the voice of nature and seek solutions that are based on it.

[Entering the Green Zone of the World Expo and experiencing the innovative model of climate education]

Compared to the professionalism and rigor of the Blue Zone, the Green Zone is a more open and inclusive space, where many parents can be seen pushing their children in strollers for sightseeing. Therefore, many activities in the Green Zone focus more on the combination of education and entertainment. However, due to our limited time, we had to make choices among the numerous venues. Ultimately, we concluded our visit with a tour of the Sustainability Pavilion, marking a fulfilling conclusion to our COP journey.

The Sustainability Pavilion’s design incorporates immersive and interactive elements throughout, offering us a complete educational tour experience. We followed in the footsteps of wildlife from different eras, journeying into the depths of the ocean and deep into the heart of the rainforest, embarking on a journey across time and space.

(The entrance sign of the Sustainability Pavilion, behind which stood the “solar power umbrella” of the pavilion, named Terra)

Entering the deep sea zone, we were greeted by layers of sediment accumulated over millions of years, existing in the remote polar regions where the memories of Earth’s past are carefully preserved. Had it not been for the abnormal phenomena of climate change, these diaries written at the poles of the Earth would continue to accumulate. However, due to excessive greenhouse gas emissions, the thickness of the ice layers has decreased to unprecedented levels, gradually shrinking the habitat space for animals. As sea levels rise, some island nations are on the brink of permanent submersion, facing dire consequences in their livelihoods...

Descending further, the lights gradually dimmed as we entered the deeper seabed. Here, devoid of light throughout the year, deep-sea creatures showcased remarkable adaptations to their environment. Some animals have evolved luminescence, emitting beautiful light spots in the dark abyss through the synthesis of fluorescent proteins, conveying information through different colors and blinking frequencies. Larger animals like whales communicated through sound, allowing sound waves of different frequencies to travel through the water, reaching companions in distant places. Yet even in such remote places far from the human world, traces of microplastic pollution have been detected not long ago.

The Rainforest Hub exhibition did not approach from the usual perspective of landscapes and topography, but instead took us into the lower layers of the rainforest, focusing on observing these often overlooked corners. Here, we experienced a day in the life of earthworms, from feeding to movement; from decomposing organic matter and processing heavy metals to aerating soil and increasing soil activity. These creatures living in the soil contribute to their habitats throughout their lives, imparting a more sacred meaning to life. It also inevitably provokes us to think more deeply: What can we do for the Earth? How can we instill environmental consciousness in more people? And how can consciousness be transformed into truly transformative action? Perhaps this is the goal we must tirelessly strive for.

Perhaps mere touring will not leave a deeper mark on the minds of visitors, so the designers allowed us to participate in the decision-making process, personally engaging in the process of change through making choices. “Would you prefer to be unable to return home for ten years or never leave home?” Pulling down the lever, making a choice, what we see is that nearly seven million people have been forced to leave their homes due to climate change; “Would you prefer to live in the desert or by the ocean?” Behind this lies the portrayal of the future living landscape. Such experiences plunged every participant into deeper contemplation, hoping to awaken more people’s concern about climate change and thus begin to leave a better planet for our descendants through action.

[Reflections sharing]

Before my departure, COP seemed more like a dream to me, existing in news articles, journals, and papers; unfolding in every corner of the world, on the pages of history books, in the negotiation rooms of high-ranking officials; embodying international relations, hot topics, and multilateral games. Therefore, I was cautious, thoroughly researching background information and confirming relevant details; I was serious, packing neatly pressed shirts and trousers in my suitcase, and storing vast amounts of academic content in my mind.

However, COP provided me with a completely different response, indicating that it is a special platform and hoping that I could grasp the “special” meaning through four days of exploration. Thus, I placed myself in every corner of the venue, using my eyes to observe and my heart to listen. I witnessed its openness and inclusiveness: within just four days, I listened to the opinions of distinguished politicians from various countries on future macro-controls in negotiations and side meetings, overviewing the whole picture among different national stances and viewpoints; I also felt deep sympathy for the people suffering in hardship during advocacy activities. The whole society, from the bottom to the top, from the public, organizations, and groups to nations, gathered together in one realm, each expressing their own voice and influencing each other.

I saw its integration and cohesion: COP was not only about the clash of positions and viewpoints at the negotiation table but also about the exchange and integration of ideas. We felt the culture from different regions in our national roles, listened to the philosophies and thoughts of various NGOs, and sought common ground and directions for joint efforts through face-to-face discussions with friends from many countries. The fusion of diverse ideas here was sure to sprout new currents of thought.

After the journey ended, I returned to my usual life trajectory, but with some differences. I look forward to maintaining the passion and courage I gained from COP, to awaken more people to the issue of climate change, and to immerse myself in concrete actions, turning thoughts into actions, leaving more space for the development of future generations. Perhaps, this is the meaning of legacy! I am grateful to the School of Environment & Natural Resources for providing me with this precious opportunity to travel, thankful for the cultivation provided by the “Economics-Science” Elite Talent Experimental Class over the past year, and appreciative of the care and concern from my teachers and senior colleagues along the way. I hope to have the chance to meet COP again in a broader world in the future.