Longhua launches sustainable initiative at COP29

Lan Tao, director of the HUA HUB Joint National Project, delivers a speech during the Shenzhen Day event at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, yesterday. Courtesy of HUA HUB

HUA HUB — also known as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Innovation Lab (Shenzhen Longhua) — launched the Youth Social Design Bootcamp for International Sustainable Communities project during the Shenzhen Day event at this year’s U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, yesterday.

HUA HUB collaborated with international organizations, industry associations, businesses, universities, young people, and media outlets to jointly launch the project, which aims to advance the U.N.’s SDGs, create innovative energy, and deliver cutting-edge ideas for the development of Shenzhen’s international communities.

Safder Nazir, senior vice president at Huawei Middle East and Central Asia, presents a keynote speech during the Shenzhen Day event at COP29 yesterday. Courtesy of Guangdong Satellite TV

Officially launched at the Longhua International Cooperation Center (LICC) in Longhua District this August, HUA HUB aims to explore innovative policies, pathways, and local solutions for the sustainable development of megacities by leveraging the UNDP’s innovation network in Longhua.

Three blocks in Longhua District, namely Shenzhen North Station International Business District, Dalang Fashion Town, and Guanlan Culture Town, will participate in the project.

During the project launch, Lan Tao, director of the HUA HUB Joint National Project, stated that Longhua District is eager to collaborate with young people from various countries to actively think, take positive actions, continuously innovate, and collectively build internationally connected, innovation-driven, green, and inclusive communities. 

Wang Zunyao, an 11th grade student at Shenzhen College of International Education, gives a speech at COP29 on Tuesday. Courtesy of Guangdong Satellite TV

At the conference, Wang Zunyao, an 11th-grade student at Shenzhen College of International Education, shared his thoughts on how Shenzhen is making strides in environmental protection. 

In his speech, he said Shenzhen’s tangible initiatives, including carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, construction of parks, and promotion of sustainable urban development, demonstrate its commitment to environmental protection.

Panelists engage in a discussion during the Shenzhen Day event at COP29 on Tuesday. Courtesy of Guangdong Satellite TV

Additionally, HUA HUB partnered with EyeShenzhen, an international communication platform under the Shenzhen News Group, to launch the Shenzhen Generation Z University Alliance International Communication Project at the conference.

This project encourages Gen Z international students from 10 universities in Shenzhen to share traditional Chinese culture, social development, and personal life stories on overseas social media, promote green innovation and sustainable development projects, and foster exchanges and mutual learning among diverse cultural groups.