What they say

Delegates at the second United Nations China Youth Environmental Forum shared their insights on the significance of environmental protection and inspiring the young generation to protect the environment, Chen Meiling reports.

Young people today are very excited to do something meaningful for the present as well as for the future. Concerning global challenges, such as pollution, water and climate change, and with the knowledge and resources the young generation have, I believe they will play a very important role when they become future leaders. They can make a difference at both a global level and local level.

Pradeep Monga, deputy executive secretary-general of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

We drive quality education. We focus on free quality healthcare. And more and more, we need to answer the question, what kind of world are we leaving for our children. It's very uncertain, not a full picture. It reminds us of the urgency of the work we must do today to ensure healthy, clean air, and access to safe drinking water. The forum enables young people to participate, to become actors in finding solutions, to ensure they become change makers. Their voices are essential. It will change lives. It will change their communities.

Rana Flowers, representative of the United Nations Children's Fund in China

Balancing environmental protection and development is an important issue not only for China, but also for the world. China Daily, as a national newspaper, puts great emphasis on reporting this existential challenge, and as part of these efforts it will cover the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification to be held in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region in September. As young people are the heroes of the future, we have also cooperated with the UN and the Ministry of Environmental Protection to organize this annual forum so young Chinese can put forward solutions to environmental problems on the world stage, and make their contributions to global efforts to achieve sustainable development.

Qu Yingpu, deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily

Young people here, you are at an age full of dreams about what you want to do in the future. But I hope you will not only care about your own future, but keep the 17 goals of sustainable development by 2030 in mind. The goals include clean water, marine biodiversity and sustainable consumption, which are what truly matters for human beings, whatever industries or jobs. And the way to reach that goal lies in the clothes we wear, the food we eat, and the accommodation and transportation models. That's why we hold such a forum: to raise awareness of the earth and resources among people at an early age.

Jiang Nanqing, national program officer of United Nations Environment Programme

Stephen William Hawking once said that we only have 500 years left to prevent the earth from being destroyed in a continuing, worsening unhealthy and unsafe state caused by pollution and climate change. If the problem can't be solved, we will have to leave our only home here in space. Though none of us can live that long to see that day, we are the creatures with the highest intelligence that should shoulder the responsibility. Today, we invite many young people to play a role in the discussion of changing the world, because if you don't participate now, the earth will be doomed when you are at my age.

Jia Feng, director of the Center of Environmental Education and Communications of the Ministry of Environmental Protection

Here, you can speak out and launch your initiatives. Beijing Municipal Education Commission puts great emphasis on environmental protection education. We set up a contest to award teenagers who provided scientific advice. For example, 40 Beijing pupils put forward suggestions that cars should turn off their engines when waiting at the lights to reduce emissions. We hope to let more children know the importance of environmental protection.

Wang Jun, chief of department of physical, health and arts education of Beijing Municipal Education Commission

(China Daily 08/16/2017 page12)