Liu Yangyang

524652046@qq.com

AN impactful COP29 side event titled “Vulnerable Cities Under Climate Impact” was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Thursday, focusing on the challenges that developing cities face under the strain of climate change. Representatives of the U.N. International Children’s Emergency Fund, global climate educators, and sustainable business leaders gathered to discuss how youth-led innovative ideas can bolster climate resilience in vulnerable urban areas.

One of the event’s most inspiring presentations came from Li Bingchen and Li Binghuan, 13-year-old twin brothers from Shenzhen. In a video address, the brothers shared their journey to mobilize their peers toward climate action, emphasizing that “small actions, taken consistently, can lead to real change.” This statement echoed their belief in the power of young people to shape a sustainable future.

In 2023, they conducted a climate awareness survey at their school, Shenzhen Middle School (SZMS) Nanshan Innovation School, which they presented at COP28. At COP29, they built on this work, discussing their vision of empowering Shenzhen’s youth to be regional climate leaders. They also shared the challenges they faced — adjusting to a new school, handling unanswered event invitations, and managing scheduling conflicts. Yet, they remained undeterred, explaining, “We learned to break down big goals into manageable steps.”

Over the past year, the Li brothers have led various initiatives to engage their classmates, including inviting climate experts to speak at their school, organizing a field trip to a zero-carbon community, and creating climate-themed quizzes. “We wanted our classmates to see that climate action isn’t just a big, distant goal — it’s something we can start working on right here and now,” they said.

At the end of their presentation, the brothers outlined their next steps, which include enhancing survey engagement through feedback and expanding their insights. They plan to present the results of that work at COP30. “We are dedicated to helping our classmates become some of the most climate-conscious youth in the city, and we are only just beginning,” they declared.