itor's Note
Tsinghua University plays an active role in promoting the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by nurturing innovative talents, enhancing research, among many other important ways. This article is written by Yang Qing, master's student with MPP-SDG Double Degree program of the School of Public Policy and Management (SPPM). With a research focus on climate issues, she gained internship experiences with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
Let's go to her stories dedicating to the building of a green future with International Organizations (IOs).
At the headquarter of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Beijing, China
Climate change is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. According to the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) report, since 1970, global surface temperatures have risen faster than in any other 50-year period over the past 2,000 years. Human activity does change the climate in unprecedented and sometimes irreversible ways.
01Nothing is impossible
to a willing heart
My hometown is in Hebei Province, which had the most severe air pollution during my high school days. The question of how to abate pollution was what initially sparked my interest in sustainable development.
I studied International Relations as an undergraduate, and through my study, I’m able to think about human nature and understand compassion and humility. During my first year at university, I went to Sri Lanka, and residents there said the highway was constructed in collaboration with the Chinese government. They also told me that due to climate change, this island country faced a threat of disappearance because of rising sea levels. Following my passion and curiosity for environmental issues, especially climate change, I started my journey in international climate studies.
With the dream of working with international organizations (IOs) and making the world achieve better economic growth alongside a better climate, I joined the Tsinghua-UniGe family at the School of Public Policy and Management in 2020. This highly interdisciplinary 2.5-year dual master’s program focuses on defining and developing concrete solutions for the SDGs through hands-on, team-based and project-driven activities, in parallel with courses on the fundamentals of sustainable development.
“How could you only have theoretical knowledge without practice?” I asked myself after finishing the first eight-week courses at Tsinghua. At the end of October 2020, I continued to apply for almost ten internship positions at the UN China office but got no responses. My friends suggested I give up and try other opportunities because the IOs competition was fierce, and the talent pool was full of candidates with extensive overseas experience and excellent educational backgrounds, but I still wanted to try.
Suddenly, at the beginning of December, while I was studying in the library, an email came to my inbox from the UNDP China Office…How thrilled I was! The next step was to prepare for the written test, the first interview, and the second interview. I repeatedly reviewed the mission, publications and news of the UNDP and the job description of my position, did mock interviews, and practiced my English from time to time. Finally, I came to Liangmaqiao and started my first internship with an international organization.
At the UN Compound, Beijing, China
02Facilitating
South-South Cooperation
The UNDP has been working in China over the past 40 years, partnering with various stakeholders to advance various phases of China’s development. It continues to be at the forefront of working with China to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) domestically, and through China’s global cooperation, around the world.
My responsibilities included, but were not limited to, supporting the drafting and implementation of South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund Projects, tracking projects’ result monitoring indicators, and coordination etc.
In addition to my daily work, I also helped organize UNDP Green Committee activities i.e., advocating green lunch, drafting speeches for our Resident Representative, hosting events like the Diplomats’ Movie Night, etc. I then realized that our small personal decisions could have a big impact on climate change, and green living was about preserving and improving the health of planet Earth for all!
Hosting the Diplomats’ Movie Night with the Theme of Climate Change
03Financing Infrastructure
for Tomorrow
Asia’s sustainable development pathway will be crucial for achieving the Paris Agreement objectives.
After finishing the half-year internship with the UNDP, I got a summer internship opportunity at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a multilateral development bank focused on the development of Asia. The Bank facilitates “financing infrastructure for tomorrow” that empowers regions and their people with access to physical, digital and social services. This in turn contributes to local, regional, and global sustainability.
To support the Paris Agreement, AIIB has set an ambitious target of ensuring that 50 percent of its overall approved financing is directed toward climate finance by 2025. During its Annual Meeting last year, President Jin announced that AIIB would align its operations with the goals of the Paris Agreement by July 1, 2023.
Fortunately, my role in this experience was researching climate change and related topics. With my supervisors’ effective guidance, I helped the team track projects’ climate finance, and conducted research on ESG and peer benchmark analysis of climate risk, Paris Alignment, and so on. Also, I assisted to draft a couple of high-level speaking notes on green and climate for the Bank’s President and Vice Presidents.
Assisted to Draft the President’s Speaking Notes of the 1st V20 Climate Vulnerables Finance Summit
04Technology Innovation to
Combat Climate Change
Fostering the use of innovative climate technology plays a key role in greenhouse gas emissions reduction and racing to net zero. The current level of ambition set out in countries’ national climate action - National Determined Contributions (NDCs) is still far too low for the international community to meet the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement, and technology innovation is key to raising climate action.
Against this background, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry has the potential to help reduce global carbon emissions by 20% over the next decade by empowering other industries. Technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and blockchains all have application scenarios that combine with energy, construction, transportation, industry, agriculture, and other industries to promote carbon emission reduction.
Working with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Summit on the Information Society team, we organized a virtual workshop on “Race to Net Zero: Combat Climate Change with Technology Innovation.” From drafting the concept note to inviting panellist speakers and moderators, countless coordination and organization work had to be carried out simultaneously. Indeed, all solid efforts finally paid off when the work gained success.
Poster of the ITU WSIS Forum on Climate Change
Together with like-minded friends, we’ve taken an important step forward by organizing the Tsinghua University Student Association on Net-zero Future since January. Up to now, we have developed “ClimateNow” case studies on 2022 Winter Olympics carbon neutrality, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, hydrogen technology and green buildings. Also, we will organize “ClimateTalks” and more climate-related forums in the next couple of months.
For the future, I’ll continue to follow my passion on sustainable development and contribute to combating climate change. This is what I will always do, and it’s a lifelong love and responsibility.
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