Baku, November 14, 2024 – The International Youth Sustainable Innovation Summit COP29 Side Event was successfully held in the afternoon of November 14, 2024, at the Earth Conference Room in the COP29 Green Zone in Baku. The event was jointly hosted by the International Youth Sustainable Innovation Summit (YSS), Climate Future Global Innovation Lab (C Force), PKUICN, and the Global Sustainable Development Goals and Leadership Development Center (GSLDC).

The event received strong support from numerous prestigious institutions and organizations from around the world, including the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Eurasia Center (EAC), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Youth Advisory Council, Peking University Carbon Neutrality Research Institute (ICN), Harvard Law School, the Yale University International Leadership Center, the SDSN Global Climate Center, the AE4RIA Network, the World Environmental and Resource Economists Association Council, the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the Global Alliance of Universities for Climate (GAUC), the Harvard University Undergraduate AI Student Association, Tsinghua University School of Environment, the Global Sustainable Planet Alliance, Athens University of Economics and Business and Technical University, and Danish Universities, among others.

The summit brought together youth leaders, climate action advocates, and experts from around the globe to discuss key issues related to climate change, sustainable development, and green innovation. During the event, participants engaged in meaningful dialogue and explored innovative solutions to address the climate crisis, underscoring the critical role of youth in advancing climate action.

Notable discussions included youth-led initiatives in sustainable technologies, global cooperation in climate policy, and the essential role of education and leadership in shaping a sustainable future. The event highlighted the growing influence of young people in global climate efforts and emphasized the importance of international collaboration to accelerate progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The event was a significant milestone in fostering youth engagement and leadership in the global climate movement, with participants expressing their commitment to driving change and innovation for a sustainable future.

The summit commenced promptly at 4:00 PM, with attendees gathering together to discuss the critical role of youth in driving sustainable climate solutions. The atmosphere at the event was lively, as participants not only had the opportunity to share their experiences but also fostered cross-sector collaboration, exchanging innovative ideas and collectively contributing their wisdom and strength to addressing climate challenges.

The conference began with welcome addresses from four distinguished speakers. Chen Zhihua, Deputy Director of the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, Wang Yanmin, Innovation Advisor for the International Youth Sustainable Innovation Conference, Doctor of Innovation Management at Peking University, and Director of the China Association for Science and Technology's Research Association for Institutional Reform, Alice Ho, Chief Youth Officer of the Global Alliance of Universities for Climate (GAUC), and Shanzi Jiang, Co-Founder of the International Youth Sustainable Innovation Conference, each extended their warm congratulations on the successful launch of the event and highly praised the critical role of youth in climate action.

The first session of the conference was themed "COP29 Accelerator: Innovative Pathways Toward a Sustainable Future". Dr.Binbin Wang, Founder and Director of the Climate Future Global Innovation Lab (C Force) and Vice Dean of the Carbon Neutrality Research Institute at Peking University, served as the moderator for this session.

Professor Haibin Zhang, Vice Dean of the Carbon Neutrality Research Institute at the School of International Studies, Peking University, delivered an insightful speech. Drawing from big data analysis, he provided an in-depth exploration of the prospects for global climate governance.

Additionally, Professor Qingchen Chao, Director of the National Climate Center at the China Meteorological Administration, and Jian Yi, Co-Chair of the Global Accelerator for Food Systems Transformation, each delivered congratulatory remarks, offering their support and best wishes for the success of the event.

In the subsequent roundtable discussion, several distinguished guests engaged in in-depth discussions on the theme. Professor Phoebe Koundouri, President of the World Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, Eat Lancet representative, EU representatives, Yuval Ben-David, Chief Strategy Officer of the Yale University International Leadership Center, Professor Yanis Ioannidis, President of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and Dr. Eben Akinsete, Co-Chair of SDSN Greece, each shared their insights and provided valuable suggestions and reflections, contributing significantly to the conference.

The second session was themed "COP29 Mixer: Unleashing the Innovative Potential of Youth to Build a Global Sustainable Future". After an opening speech from a representative of the organizing committee, Annie Bai, Youth Innovation Ambassador of YSS, and Jack from GSLDC co-moderated the session.

Four distinguished speakers delivered inspiring keynote addresses: Eric Solheim, former UN Under-Secretary-General, Marie Owens Thomsen, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Helena McCloud, Deputy Director-General of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), and Satya S. Tripathi, Chair of the Global Sustainable Planet Alliance. Their thought-provoking presentations sparked widespread resonance and heated discussions among the attendees.

During the roundtable discussion, Alice Ho , Chief Youth Officer of the Global Alliance of Universities for Climate (GAUC), Jonathan Schwestka, Deputy Director of the European Office of the Eurasia Center (EAC), Qiulin Liu, Climate Change Program Officer at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Gismat Karimov, Youth Ambassador for Climate Diplomacy at the Global Sustainable Development Goals and Leadership Development Center (GSLDC), and Lian Xirui, Director of the Shenzhen Institute for Ecological Environment Protection and Climate Change Response, engaged in a lively discussion on the theme. They shared their experiences and insights, offering valuable references for advancing greater youth contributions in climate action.

The csummit concluded successfully with closing remarks and a group photo. Participants expressed that the event not only provided a valuable platform for exchange but also ignited their passion and determination to contribute to sustainable development. They expressed confidence that, through the collective efforts of youth, we can undoubtedly tackle climate challenges and drive the vigorous advancement of global sustainable development.

The successful hosting of this summit received widespread participation and support from youth leaders, experts, and advocates from around the world. We look forward to continuing to work together in the future, united in our efforts to build a greener, more sustainable future.