This is an overdue report, but we’re super excited to share news from GPS activities in China.

General section for introducing the GPS China Team and what is Power Shift.

From 12-15 July more than 150 regional youth climate leaders from different parts of China gathered in Beijing for the beginning of GPS efforts in China. This was the International Youth Summit on Energy and Climate Change held partly in Peking University and partly in Tsinghua University. The aim of the event was to create a youth mobilization platform by displaying their achievements in the fields of energy and climate change, to cooperate towards a low-carbon, efficient, clean, and sustainable future.

More than hundred Chinese youths from different regions joined the submit and learning how to shift the power back home.

On the third day, Jah Ying Chung held an introduction and discussion session with everyone regarding GPS and the lessons and stories from phase 1 in Istanbul. Everyone was enormously impressed by the videos from GPS and were inspired by the urgent message to take actions and to fight against global warming together. Local groups formed to discuss what they could do when they got back to their regions. Also, each team made up a slogan for themselves and shouted it loudly in different local languages or accents. Everyone committed to take actions from then on.

Skills breakout sections for learning specific skills from GPS China Team delegates

After the general sharing session, the GPS China team led sessions to discuss skills learned from different tracks in GPS phase 1 in Turkey, including policy, digital campaigning, media creativity and non-violent direct actions (NVDA). In each track, those GPS China team members not only passed on knowledge and skills they’ve learned but also encouraged others to initiate campaigns and actions in their hometowns and regions, such as carrying out a carbon emissions inventory.

Regional Team discussions on how and what exactly the power shifters should work on for phase 2.

This summit successfully attracted hundreds of youth leaders to participate and about 7,000 people to discuss on social network, Weibo (Chinese twitter)! This was just the beginning of the story for GPS in China. Moving forward the GPS China Team is planning a four staged national campaign they’re calling “Know Your Carbon.” The aim is to work with over 2,000 youths to raise awareness around climate impacts in their communities leading to at least 10 project progress reports, including greenhouse gas emission inventory result and a follow-up action plan for campus energy reduction schemes based on the inventory results around the country. Stay tuned as more unfolds!