The National Committee of the Young Men's Christian Association of China selected a voluntary worker to join the World YMCA delegation to attend the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) held in Dubai.
Liu Xinyan, a volunteer from Chengdu YMCA in Sichuan, was chosen as the sole delegate to the conference held from November 30 to December 12, attended by about 97,000 people, such as representatives from contracting parties, business leaders, climate scientists, indigenous people, youth, experts in media, and stakeholders, said YMCA China.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP) is an annual summit aimed at reaching agreements to limit temperature increases to 1.5°C and reach net-zero emissions by 2050 to tackle the climate crisis.
Liu stated, "Attending COP28 allowed me to see how the United Nations, as a global governance body, corrects short-sighted and profit-driven thinking by providing a platform to aggregate interests." She added, "As youth, our awareness of protecting the natural environment and empathy is gradually increasing, and our voices are growing louder."
Liu was trained before her departure to voice the opinions of Chinese youth.
Before the conference, the World Alliance of YMCAs conducted six online training sessions, introducing YMCA 2030 visions, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its related resolutions, an overview of the COP28 meeting, travel arrangements, and precautions. Through workshops, youth representatives learned to share their hometown's experiences and stories of climate change adaptation.
Diverse thematic areas were set up at the venue. For example, the "China Corner" hosted discussions and presentations by central and local government officials and representatives from universities, research institutions, and civil organizations on climate-related topics. The sessions, such as "Using Bamboo Instead of Plastic: Dealing with Plastic Pollution" and "Civil Action Contributes to Climate Solutions," proposed combining Chinese traditional culture and philosophical thoughts with climate change adaptation. Additionally, exhibits showcasing Chinese cultural features like tea art and calligraphy attracted delegates from varied countries.
Liu, the volunteer, believed this journey was life-changing, expressing gratitude to YMCA China for providing such an opportunity. "As a representative of the organization, I strive to expand its influence and share the story of China. Within the team, I customized luggage tags and presented 'Chinese specialties' such as essential balm and panda-shaped candies to foreign friends, each receiving much appreciation. During in-depth conversations, they shared their backgrounds and local stories; Li told many experiences and stories about the Chinese government, YMCA China, and other grassroots organizations in climate governance and environmental management, highlighting the charming aspects of Chinese traditional culture."
At the conference, Li presented YMCA China's propositions and contributions to youth empowerment and sustainable development, expressing her commitment to continuing involvement in YMCA activities as a volunteer.
During the conference, delegates could participate in three types of activities: negotiations, side events, and media conferences. As the core of COP28, negotiations involve formal discussions and consultation among contracting party representatives to reach agreements and resolutions regarding global climate change and greenhouse gas emissions reduction, promoting climate action worldwide.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
