Global

The Future Speaks for Itself: Youth Perspectives on the Environment

Rising temperatures and extreme weather events are already being felt across the globe. In consequence, society is gearing up to transition to a more sustainable system, from politics, innovation, to civil society.

In particular, much hope is put on the young generation to find solutions to these wide-encompassing problems, despite having to bear the greatest consequences of these issues. Swissnex in China would like to invite you take a seat and listen to what the young generation think on Environmental Issues. With a diverse group, consisting of Swiss and Chinese youth, in academia, NGOs, civil society and more, come find out what the Future has to say.

 

Agenda:

15:30 – 16:00 Registration
16:00 – 16:05 Opening Remarks and Speaker introduction
16:05 – 16:50 Fireside chat
16:50 – 17:00 Q&A

Speakers

  • Zenith Qu

    Zenith Qu

    Liberal Arts educator

    Zenith Qu is a Liberal Arts educator and course designer specializing in Humanities, Philosophy, Drama, English Literature, and Natural Sciences. With a strong background in social impact, they have volunteered with environmental NGOs and supported migrant children through education initiatives. An eco-practitioner and outdoor enthusiast, they integrate sustainability and community engagement into their teaching and advocacy.

  • Lin Boynton

    Lin Boynton

    Gen A Fellow with “Asia Society Switzerland” and PhD student at ETH Zurich

    Lin Boynton is a Gen A Fellow with “Asia Society Switzerland” and PhD student at ETH Zurich, specializing in plastic recycling. She earned her MSc in Environmental Sciences from ETH Zurich and BSc in Geophysical Science from the University of Chicago. Prior to her PhD, she worked at the sustainability startup Indigo Ag, where she developed opportunities to leverage microbes for regenerative agriculture. Co-founder of PLEAID Kollektiv, she is passionate about using art to evolve the way people think, work, and act sustainably.

  • Yuzhou Wu

    Yuzhou Wu

    Chinese marine conservation professional

    Yuzhou is a Chinese marine conservation professional and a 2024 fellow of the Blue Pioneers Accelerator Program. She previously worked as a Communication Manager and Policy Researcher at the Qingdao Marine Conservation Society, a leading NGO focused on marine ecosystem conservation and sustainable fisheries in China. She began her career in marine conservation at the IUCN Global Marine and Polar Group in 2020. She has been featured in Swissnex in China’s Planetary Thinking documentary series in the episode focused on the element of water. With a master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Lausanne, she has been actively engaged in climate advocacy, conducting research on fossil fuel divestment at Noé21 in Geneva, volunteering with Greenpeace Vaud for three years, and participating in numerous climate marches and policy initiatives during her stay in Switzerland.

  • Yitao Li

    Yitao Li

    Environmental systems and policy major at ETH Zurich and Junior Project Manager at Swissnex in China

    Yitao is a Junior Project Manager at Swissnex in China, contributing to initiatives that foster collaboration between Switzerland and China in the realms of education, research, and innovation. He has a background in environmental engineering at EPFL and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in environmental systems and policy at ETH Zurich. There, he is learning about the human-environment interface, diving into the realms of energy, agriculture, economy, and governance, broadening his scope and view on environmental issues. He has also taken part in his department’s student association as co-president, working on various projects to improve student’s study experience.

Partners

Climate Ring Shanghai