GCA CEO Launches Youth Climate Adaptation Action Day at Tsinghua University
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eijing, China, 11 October 2024 – Professor Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) and Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, delivered a keynote address at Tsinghua University today, marking the official launch of Youth Climate Adaptation Action Day. His lecture, “Global Youth and the Acceleration of Climate Adaptation Action,” addressed the critical role of youth-led innovation in combating the escalating climate crisis. This event was part of a larger global mobilization, with over 320 youth-led climate adaptation events taking place in 70 countries.
The Youth Climate Adaptation Action Day aims to empower young people to lead climate adaptation efforts worldwide. Organized by GCA, this day serves as a platform for youth to share ideas, develop solutions, and drive community action to mitigate the impacts of climate change. “Lighthouse Events,” are being held across multiple countries, including China, Bangladesh, Kenya, and the Netherlands, showcasing youth-driven adaptation strategies such as community clean-ups, reforestation, and water conservation projects.
During his keynote, Professor Verkooijen emphasized: “Young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are already at the forefront of driving the climate solutions we need today. Their contributions to climate adaptation will shape the resilience of vulnerable communities worldwide, and their energy is vital to the global effort to adapt to the impacts of climate change.”
Zhang Wenchuan, Masters student at School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University said “Today’s youths are very passionate about climate change and climate adaptation action. They are putting lots of efforts and resources to engage in field trip to get first-hand information about climate and also using social media platforms to raise public awareness about climate change. They are not only enhancing their own capabilities, but also helping more people to know about this issue and to adapt. So I think the youth is power and possibility.”
The event also saw the launch of the “Tsinghua University Global Adaptation Joint Initiative,” a collaboration between GCA and Tsinghua University designed to foster knowledge exchange on climate adaptation. This initiative aligns with China’s broader goals of achieving carbon neutrality and promoting sustainable development.
Professor Verkooijen’s speech was followed by discussions with representatives from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, and distinguished scholars such as Professor HE Kebin, Dean of the Institute of Carbon Neutrality at Tsinghua University, who spoke on China’s innovations in green technologies and climate resilience.
The event at Tsinghua University is part of a broader commitment by GCA to engage young leaders in the climate adaptation space. As part of the Youth Climate Adaptation Action Day, young people worldwide will participate in various initiatives, from nature restoration projects to awareness campaigns, designed to build climate-resilient communities.
Notes to Editors
About the Global Center on Adaptation
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that promotes adaptation to the impacts of climate change. It works to climate-proof development by instigating policy reforms and influencing investments made by international financial institutions and the private sector. The goal is to bring climate adaptation to the forefront of the global fight against climate change and ensure that it remains prominent.
Founded in 2018, GCA embodies innovation in its approach to climate adaptation as well as in its physical presence. It operates from the largest floating office in the world, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. GCA has a worldwide network of regional offices in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Beijing, China. The Center will open a new office in Nairobi, Kenya in 2025.
