Chongqing - Efforts to restart cooperation between China and European nations have drawn global attention, as Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, started his tour of Europe on February 14 (to 22). China and European nations should restart exchanges and cooperation while strengthening communication and dialogue, as Wang Yi noted, "act as soon as possible."

Chongqing International Communication Center and Luhai International Communication Foundation will join hands with universities in China and Europe to hold the round-table dialogue "Urban Youth Join Hands Across Lands and Seas" on February 24, Beijing time. 

The poster of the round-table dialogue, "Urban Youth Join Hands Across Lands and Seas." (Photo/Yue Xingchen)

With the theme "Youth Responsibilities to Challenges of Climate Change," the event will invite young people from China, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy to conduct round-table dialogue to discuss the challenges brought about by climate change and economic downturn, as well as the measures and results of various countries. 

They will put forward their opinions and make suggestions to show the responsibility of the youth group and contribute youth wisdom and power to the construction of the "community with a shared future for mankind."

The event was directed by the Information Office of the Chongqing Municipal People's Government and hosted by the Chongqing International Communication Center and the Luhai International Communication Foundation.

The dialogue will be carried out in the form of an online connection. The main venue is Chongqing International Communication Center, and the sub-venues are at the University of London, Three Kings International Academy in Dusseldorf, and Rome 9 Sino-Italian Economic and Cultural Exchange Centre. 

Alex, a foreign reporter from the Chongqing International Communication Center, will join hands with hosts from the UK, Germany, and Italy to co-host the event from four places. 

More than 40 young people from China and Europe will discuss and share three themes: Situation, Current actions and the outcomes, and Suggestions and plans for the future. They will interpret the responsibilities of young people in the new era of climate change based on their countries' specific situations and personal experiences. 

This event also invited Chinese and European climate experts to answer questions and provide more accurate information and guidance for Chinese and foreign youth from a more professional and authoritative perspective.

What can young people do to tackle climate change? Let's find out the answer in "Urban Youth Join Hands Across Lands and Seas"!

Prof Feng's research field is focused on climate and ocean numerical simulation, particularly assessing climate mitigation and adaptation strategies under geoengineering. He also chaired one German research project funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) regarding coral reef protection and successfully filed one German patent with an innovation award granted. In 2019, Prof Feng served as a science trainer to candidates competing in Deloitte (Germany) Global Environment Entrepreneurship Contest. 

As a versatile climate scientist, Prof. Feng developed his climate research-related interdisciplinary expertise through exchange programs as a visiting scholar at Harvard University Kennedy School and the Economic Department of Heidelburg University. Since 2022, his research team under his leadership has been tasked to develop an integrated accounting method of carbon footprint/offset of large-scale ocean negative emission technologies. Apart from his academic activities, Prof Feng is dedicated to climate science education and international dialogues and serves as a notable climate and environment topic-based columnist for mainstream Chinese newspapers such as Guancha.cn and Global Times. 

Josie Wexler works at Ethical Consumer. She studied Environmental Technology at Imperial College London and did her thesis on small farmers in Zambia growing biofuel feedstock for sale under different contractual arrangements and what effect it had on them socially and economically. She was subsequently the joint author of the Zero Carbon Britain 2030 report at the Centre for Alternative Technology, which looked at how fast we could theoretically decarbonize the UK, modeling the energy, transport, land, industry, and building sectors.

Yang Yongchuan, born in September 1979, with a doctorate, is a professor and doctoral supervisor (ecology). He currently serves as the vice dean of the College of Environment and Ecology and director of the National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Urban Construction and Environmental Engineering of Chongqing University. He is mainly engaged in researching the ecological and environmental effects and ecological restoration of urbanization, the protection of traditional cultures and biodiversity, the survival strategies and conservation of rare and endangered plants, and the structure and dynamics of evergreen broad-leaved forests. He is also a member of the Ecological Society of China, the vice president of the Chongqing Wildlife Conservation Association, the vice president of the Chongqing Ecological Society, and an editorial board member of Conservation Biology, Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, and Guihaia. His research results have been published in mainstream international journals such as Nature Communications, Journal of Ecology, Biological Conservation, and Landscape and Urban Planning.

With a doctoral/postdoctoral degree, Tan Zhixiong is a professor at the School of Public Policy and Administration of Chongqing University, deputy director of the Research Center for Regional Economy and Science Education Strategy of Chongqing University (a strategic research base under the Ministry of Education), director of MPA Education Center of Chongqing University, director of China Soft Science Research Association, and supervisor of Chongqing Circular Economy Association. His research interests include industrial economics, environmental economics, and sustainable development planning policies. He has presided over a number of national, provincial, and ministerial projects, published more than 50 papers in important Chinese and overseas journals, and published three monographs in China Social Sciences Press and other national first-class publishing houses. He has won nine provincial and ministerial awards, such as the Outstanding Achievement Award from National Development and Reform Commission, Chongqing Development Research Award, and first and second prizes for Chongqing Social Science Outstanding Achievement Award.

Zheng Ruijun is a lecturer at Sichuan International Studies University; Director of the Department of UN Training Studies, Center for the UN and Sustainable Development Studies; Visiting Scholar at the University of Delaware, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Interest in Research: International Organizations and Cooperation. 

Marcel Klee is 36 years old and has worked as a nurse in hospitals and mobile care for seventeen years. Because of his travel to many countries in Europe and Asia, he got the chance to collect a lot of experiences with different cultures, and while he left with them, he recognized wearing responsibility as one of his strongest characteristics. In addition, he greatly influenced the nature business in his childhood. During his time in elementary school, he built a nature reserve with different plants, created a pond, and more. These life influences are his personal drive to join the China-Europe-Youth-Dialogue.