Continuous Low Carbon Fight in China Campus

China power Shift-1

On July 19, 2014, with funding from the Yu Foundation of Guangdong Province, the Sixth International Youth Summit on Energy and Climate Change Session, Yu — College Energy Saving Conference of China, was held in Zi Yue Hall in Tsinghua Unisplendour International Center.

After GPS Phase 2 was held in China by GPS-China team, more actions were taken around the country with countless volunteers support and groups efforts. Around 30 school team leaders from provinces over the big country joined the co-hosted discussion session in Beijing last summer; at the conference, those youth leaders brought with the experiences, questions, tools at hands to learn from each other about “How to apply the result of carbon accounting report from campuses into real actions for a renewable future?”

Few months after, they gathered again at their own campus, hometown and reported back to the world on their achievements for a greener future. Starting with 32 universities, the GPS Phase 2 – Low Carbon Campus Project has encouraged hundreds of students to involve themselves in their school’s energy management as well as helping them develop leadership skills; So far, there are 28 universities have completed their carbon accounting research and 24 of them are combating for carbon reduction. Each university develops its own programs to reduce their carbon footprint.For example, Beijing Forestry University launched “Lights Off Project” which involved 50 volunteers and managed to save 30,000 watts of electricity in one month.

(Upper) Team in China Agricultural University; (Lower left)In the dining hall, the students in China Agricultural University  are spreading green ideas through playing video which attracted many students. (Lower right) The lifeful team of Ludong University

(Upper) Team in China Agricultural University; (Lower left)In the dining hall, the students in China Agricultural University are spreading green ideas through playing video which attracted many students. (Lower right) The lifeful team of Ludong University

In Beijing, creative media campaign was lead by China Agricultural University students, who have newly initiated a revolution on their campus by using posters, videos, brochures and even petition to promote energy-using information and spread the green ideas. For Northeast China, Ludong University held a green campus sharing session by cooperating with 4 more universities in Yantai during summer time. The team members aimed to lead the green movement in Yantai, calling for more campuses to join them. In September, they passed the Green Project Proposal, making November the annual Environmental Awareness month which made a big step to green campus. Now, they are holding a series of activities including Recycling Innovation Competition, a Concert with no Electricity and organizing a green collar workshop. Their goal is to involve over 200 university students in energy reduction movement, and they are excited to invite more partners to join them on the growing movement.

Four environmental protection groups from different universities from Gansu Province gathered together in Lanzhou University for low carbon campus sharing session

Four environmental protection groups from different universities from Gansu Province gathered together in Lanzhou University for low carbon campus sharing session

For Northwest China, on 9th Nov 2014, more than 50 youth leaders gathered together in Lanzhou University of Gansu Province to talk about low carbon campus and strategy beyond the school semesters. Wangjian from China Youth Climate Action Network(CYCAN), core coordinator of the GPS-China team, launched the Low Carbon Campus Project in Lanzhou University for its fifth term, combining campus carbon accounting and energy reduction. The youth leaders decided to target on improving coal usage and the team has been negotiating with related managers since the summer holiday. Finally, they drafted Coal Using proposal to campus managers, and succeed in replacing coal bulk to coal powder, which doubled the energy efficiency to 97%.

The old boiler (left)used for many years with using efficiency only around 47%.; the new boiler(Right) improved the using efficiency to 97% by using coal powder.

The old boiler (left)used for many years with using efficiency only around 47%.; the new boiler(Right) improved the using efficiency to 97% by using coal powder.

Yet to reach our ambitious goal in China, but it is great to see these progress that the groups have been involving in their school’s energy management through different ways, including monitoring dormitory energy usage, library air-conditioning, outdoor lighting, recycling, and many other aspects of campus life as well. GPS-China team and GPS partner CYCAN will continue to create a green network across all Chinese universities, we need your support and please stay with us to encourage deep participation of the younger generation in overcoming and adjusting to climate change.