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During 12-14 September 2024, the Fourth Global Youth Summit on Net-Zero Future (hereinafter referred to as the 'Summit') was successfully organized by the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, Tsinghua University and Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC). The Summit's objective is to harness the power of young minds to advance climate action and to articulate the perspectives and innovative solutions of youth. More than 400 young delegates and experts from 26 nations participated the summit in person and over 270,000 viewers participated the event online.

On 12 September, 2024, the opening ceremony of the Summit was inaugurated at the Experimental Theatre of Tsinghua University. Prof. Shahbaz KHAN, the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, praised the passion and responsibility shown by youth in addressing climate change and their innovative contributions to sustainable development. He emphasized the need for scientific and innovative solutions to climate change, driving societal green transformation through education, culture, and technology. He also introduced UN International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024-2033) initiative, which leverages science to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He expressed the intention of UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia to strengthen cooperation with Tsinghua University and GAUC in climate change and science education issues, empowering global youth to engage in climate action through technological innovation.

Mr LIU Zhenmin, China's Special Envoy for Climate Change, spoke highly of the commitment and contribution of youth climate actions in his opening remarks. He highlighted the urgency and complexity of global climate governance, calling on the global community to form tighter partnerships in order to meet the goals set by the Paris Agreement. Liu stated that China is committed to the national strategy of combating climate change, through various measures including the development of new energy, improving energy efficiency, and increasing carbon sinks. He also stressed that young people are not only the inheritors, but also the architects of a carbon-neutral future. He encouraged youth to take their participation in the summit as a starting point, to continue contributing to global climate action, and to demonstrate their commitment to global sustainable development through actions.

Prof. LI Zheng, Dean of the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development at Tsinghua University and Secretary-General of GAUC, noted that climate change is one of the greatest challenges the world is facing today , and youth, as future leaders, is the backbone of the net-zero future. ¡°We recognize the pivotal role that young leaders and climate activists play in shaping our collective future. The climate journey ahead of the young people will be challenging. This Summit, stands as a manifesto of the collective efforts of global higher education.¡± Li emphasized. He then shared the climate actions and research progress of the Tsinghua University. ¡°I have personally witnessed Tsinghua University elevate its low-carbon mission to a strategic imperative, leveraging our campus as a living laboratory to assess and refine our strategies for mitigating the impacts of climate change,¡± he said.

Invited Participants included representatives from key global stakeholders such as UNESCO, the World Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, the Mercedes-Benz Star Fund, and the China Youth Development Foundation. These representatives engaged in dynamic exchanges and discussions with the youth attendees. 

In the first panel discussion themed "Mitigating Climate Change," Mr. Dai Mingli, Head of the Portfolio Management Unit at the PRC Resident Mission of the Asian Development Bank (ADB); Mr. Liu Jianguo, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Center of the Energy Research Institute at the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research; and Mr. Li Xiaojian, Project Manager of Innovation & Sustainability at the Mercedes-Benz Research & Development Tech Center China were invited as the guests experts. They shared their efforts and experiences in climate change mitigation from their respective professional fields.

The second discussion focused on the topic of "Adapting to Climate Change," with Professor Miranda Schreurs from the Technical University of Munich and Mr. Rajesh Koirala, Senior Environmental Specialist at the World Bank Group, offering profound insights on how to tackle the challenges of climate change adaptation. 

Young representatives from China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Germany, and Spain actively participated in the discussions, sharing from a youth perspective how they can engage in climate change governance through practical actions, demonstrating the attention and proactive efforts of the younger generation towards the issue of climate change.

From 13 to 14 September, 2024, the Net Zero Carbon Hackathon was successfully held online. This event focused on promoting youth power in the face of the climate change crisis, aiming to create a platform to showcase the determination, innovation motive, and actions of young people in addressing climate change. 

The Net Zero Carbon Hackathon focused the four typical tracks: Clothing, Food, Housing, and Transportation with climate change. Participants proposed innovative carbon reduction solutions based on a scientific analysis of the characteristics or shortcomings of existing products, technologies, and services, or to provide innovative carbon reduction products and services.

Project proposals collected from about 40 global schools in 14 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Kenya, Nigeria, Benin, Egypt, Sudan, Malaysia, Russia, Japan, the Netherlands, and Austria, with 154 young people participating in the project submission.

Guests and experts from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNESCO, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), Tsinghua University, Beijing University of Technology, the National Natural Science Foundation, the Administrative Center for China¡¯s Agenda 21, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the World Green Design Organization, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) offered their valuable insights and guidance to the students. They encouraged the youth to embrace bold thinking and to acquire green skills necessary to navigate and shape a transformative future.

The 4th Global Youth Summit on Net-zero Future is sponsored by Tsinghua University Education Foundation, Mercedes-Benz Star Fund, and China Youth Development Foundation.