2025 “Young Climate Envoys” Global Climate Learning Journey Kicks Off — World’s First “Climate City Park” Science Education Base Unveiled

On April 22, 2025, the “Young Climate Envoys” Global Climate Learning Journey was successfully held at the world’s first Climate City Park Science Education Base, located in Shanghai’s Gucun Park. Centered around the active participation of youth and children, the initiative combined field exploration, hands-on experiences, and international exchange. It plays a vital role in climate change education and biodiversity conservation efforts.The program aims to cultivate scientific thinking for addressing climate change by disseminating climate science knowledge; to promote low-carbon lifestyles by enhancing awareness of sustainable development; to foster a global perspective and collaborative mindset through international engagement; and to support future scientific and technological innovation by nurturing the next generation of talent.

The “Young Climate Envoys” Global Climate Learning Journey was co-organized by the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Urban Design and Urban Science (LOUD), Shanghai Climate Week (SHCW), the UN Institute for Training and Research Prosperity Alliance Shanghai Center (PAS), Little Golden Star Education Group, and Xiangliang Climate Tech, and was jointly hosted by Marguerite International Kindergarten and Tongmu Green Carbon.The event received enthusiastic participation from 128 children, who transformed into “Little Nature Detectives” to explore the climate survival secrets of birds and insects in an immersive bilingual (Chinese-English) learning experience. Through their innocent yet powerful actions, the children embodied the ecological mission of “Little Steps Protecting Blue Skies, Measuring China’s Path to the World.”

The world’s first Climate City Park Science Education Base was officially inaugurated in Shanghai’s Gucun Park. This pioneering base is built upon the Climate City Park theoretical framework developed by the LOUD. Aligned with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it specifically advances SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).The base establishes a collaborative platform that brings together international organizations, research institutions, non-profits, educational bodies, government agencies, communities, and media. Through the “Young Climate Envoys” learning journey, it integrates climate education into the practical experiences of youth and children. By offering immersive, scenario-based learning that transcends geographic and spatial boundaries, the initiative fosters the development of globally minded, future-oriented scientific talent. Utilizing the Climate City Park as a vehicle for public engagement and scientific education, the base promotes broad societal awareness and participation in climate action.

This edition of the Young Climate Envoys learning journey deeply integrated the core principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) into its practical curriculum, creating an immersive climate action classroom experience tailored for youth and children from various regions.The initiative aims to transform participating students into climate science ambassadors—empowering them to turn knowledge into action and inspire broader public engagement with climate issues. By experiencing firsthand the impacts of climate change, participants gain a tangible understanding of ecological protection and the importance of biodiversity.A special feature of the program was the inclusion of a creative thinking module, which encouraged young participants to apply interdisciplinary knowledge and propose innovative solutions to climate challenges. This holistic approach helps develop the next generation’s comprehensive capacity for climate action across scientific, educational, and social dimensions.

Global Immersion: Decoding Climate Wisdom in the Forest Classroom

Using Gucun Park as a natural outdoor classroom, the program featured two specially designed thematic learning routes—Young Ornithologists and Insect Observers. These immersive pathways combined scientific inquiry with experiential learning.In the Birdwatchers' Detective Club, children used binoculars to track the flight paths of egrets and collect weather data. They then explored how global warming affects migratory bird routes, in alignment with the UN’s focus on ecosystem-based adaptation.Inside the Climate Lab, participants simulated extreme weather conditions and observed how wind and rain affect bird feather aerodynamics—echoing the UN’s call for action to mitigate threats to biodiversity.Hands-on activities included building weather-resistant bird nests and crafting insect hotels, empowering children to fulfill key habitat protection goals found in international biodiversity and climate agreements.By transforming complex climate issues into engaging, tangible, and participatory experiences, this learning journey offered a creative model for youth climate education. Through climate-themed games and practical exploration, it made climate science understandable, relevant, and fun for young learners.

Science Empowers Childhood: From Observation to Social Responsibility

“Children are no longer bystanders to the climate crisis—they are co-creators of solutions,” remarked one of the climate learning instructors.During the outcome showcase, participants presented their research in both Chinese and English, explaining the wind-resistant structures of their self-designed bird nests. They also read aloud their Earth Day pledge: “I plant a tree for the birds,” and hung handmade insect hotels on trees throughout Gucun Park—symbolizing their commitment to biodiversity protection.The event also marked the launch of the Yangtze River Delta Climate Corridor initiative. Future projects under this initiative will include the co-development of interregional insect museums and migratory bird monitoring stations. These efforts aim to continually nurture scientific thinking and social responsibility among youth and children through cross-regional, hands-on ecological engagement.

Message from the United Nations: UNITAR’s Prosperity Alliance Endorses the “Young Climate Envoys” Initiative for Global Outreach

Michael Adalla, Deputy Director of the Division for Prosperity at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), expressed his strong support for the Young Climate Envoys learning journey through a video message.He commended the initiative for transforming regional climate action experiences into globally applicable solutions, providing valuable models for sustainable development in developing countries while cultivating the next generation of climate governance leaders and innovators worldwide.Adalla emphasized that UNITAR’s Prosperity Alliance will continue to support such intergenerational and cross-cultural climate initiatives. He called for the collective efforts of interdisciplinary ecological partners to build a more harmonious and sustainable planet for all.

The 2025 Young Climate Envoys initiative, as a model of global youth and children’s engagement in climate action, has already received positive responses from more than 30 international schools. This climate learning journey will be showcased at the 2025 Beautiful China Forum, serving as a platform to highlight the sense of responsibility and commitment demonstrated by Chinese youth and children in addressing climate change.The initiative also echoes the vision of Shanghai Climate Week—“China’s Action, Asia’s Voice, World’s Standard”—by presenting a compelling narrative of youth-led climate leadership on the global stage.

The Young Climate Envoys learning initiative will continue to focus on a global perspective, spreading the concept of “harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature” to every corner of the world. It aims to help youth and children deeply understand and proactively embrace the mission of building a “shared future for humankind,” encouraging them to actively participate in global climate governance.This initiative seeks to establish a new model of climate action characterized by broad-based social participation and collaborative advancement—injecting sustained energy and hope into the global effort to combat climate change. By continuously cultivating a youth- and child-centered climate action network, it will transform cutting-edge climate concepts into replicable and scalable ecological practices.Looking ahead, the LOUD, Shanghai Climate Week (SHCW), and the UNITAR Prosperity Alliance Shanghai Center (PAS) will jointly advocate, in collaboration with over 200 international schools and globally recognized nonprofit organizations, to invite more international institutions, NGOs, schools, governments, communities, and media outlets around the world to join the Young Climate Envoys initiative.