On June 23, 35 students and a teacher from China and the United States gathered at Guangdong University of Technology for the opening ceremony of the 2026 China-US Youth Future Climate Leadership Exchange Program in the Greater Bay Area, an initiative that brings young minds from both nations together to address climate governance and green development.
The program is also a concrete step in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Deepening Green Development Cooperation between Guangdong Province and California. The initiative seeks to build bridges for youth exchange, enhance climate awareness and problem-solving capabilities among the next generation, and contribute youthful energy to addressing the global climate crisis.
"Climate change and the environment are issues that know no borders," said Jun Wang, Assistant Provost of the University of California, Riverside, at the ceremony. He noted that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and Guangdong in particular, is at the forefront of environmental protection in China.
"Especially in energy conservation, emission reduction, hydrogen energy, green energy, and electric power, its advantages are remarkably prominent," Wang said.
He expressed hope that, through the longstanding sister-state friendship between California and Guangdong and both regions' strategic vision for ecological and environmental cooperation, "both non-governmental and official exchanges will continue to deepen in the long run."
For the American student participants, the program offers a firsthand look at how China is responding to pressing environmental challenges.
Aaron Joshua Turner, an undergraduate in Finance and Economics at Ball State University, said he is eager to learn about renewable energy and water treatment technologies. "In America, most cars are gas-powered and rely on non-renewable energy sources," he observed. "I think a big thing moving forward for the entire world really is using renewable energy for transportation."
Turner also expressed interest in water recycling, "especially with the rise of AI and data centers," and said he looks forward to seeing how China tackles these challenges.
Fayez Olabi Eyabi, a Biology undergraduate from the University of California, Riverside, said what excites him most is the chance to learn through hands-on experiences.
"I'm particularly looking forward to the field research," he said, adding that he also hopes to immerse himself in Cantonese culture during his time in South China.
Chinese participants echoed the spirit of cross-border collaboration. Dai Siqi, an undergraduate in English and International Communication at Guangdong University of Technology, emphasized the pivotal role of young people in climate action. "In our daily lives, young people are not only explorers of climate issues, but also influencers and a major driving force," she said.
Over the next seven days, the participants will take part in academic seminars, field research, project workshops, and presentations.
Their itinerary includes visits to China Southern Airlines' aircraft maintenance facilities to learn about green aviation operations and carbon reduction technologies, as well as site visits covering new energy manufacturing, smart power grids, wastewater recycling, solid waste resource utilization, and wetland ecological restoration.
The program also features cultural experiences including Cantonese opera, embroidery, and cuisine, offering participants a taste of Lingnan's artistic heritage. A visit to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is also scheduled, allowing students to examine the ecological protection design behind the massive cross-sea infrastructure project.
With the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) approaching, the program represents an important step in translating ambitious climate goals into tangible action through people-to-people diplomacy.
Reporter | Guo Chuhua
Photo | Guo Chuhua
