Tsinghua International School (THIS) held on Oct. 28 the Dialogue on Sustainable Development Goals: Responsible Consumption and Production, a sub panel of the G20 Education Dialogue and International Symposium on Sustainable Development, which is hosted by the Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU).
Addressing Sowing Sustainability, Cultivating a New Campus, this sub panel was aimed at fostering consensus through diverse dialogues. It was expected to act as a catalyst for positive change and the source of inspiration for schools in their contribution to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through policy interpretation and campus practices.
The sub panel was attended by SDGs experts, scholars, student representatives from THIS and Tsinghua University High School (THUHS)-Chaoyang, THUHS-Shangdi, THUHS-Yongfeng, THUHS-Guanghua, THUHS-Tanzhe Temple, THUHS-Zhixin, Beijing No. 3 Experimental School, Beijing 101 Middle School and International School Beijing.
The event was moderated by THIS Vice Principal Liu Wei (Weiky).
Youth Responsibility on Sustainable Development
In her welcome address, THIS Executive Principal Zhu Ying (Renee), said that THIS is consistently committed to cultivating future talents with a global perspective and a sense of social responsibility.
“We believe that education is not only about academic excellence, but also about preparing our young adults to be the guardians of our planet. The theme of this sub panel -- responsible consumption and production -- is particularly relevant in today's world,” said Principal Zhu.
Quoting the ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi, “Humans follow the Earth, the Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Dao, and the Dao follows nature,” she emphasized that the best interaction between humanity and nature is harmonious coexistence.
Principal Zhu encouraged everyone to strive to make the world a better place – starting with their own actions and extending to their communities and beyond.
Niu Huayong, Director of the G20 Center at BFSU, stated that China as the world's largest manufacturing country bears a special responsibility in promoting global sustainable development.
He encouraged students: "Today you are school students; in the future, you will become leaders in various fields. Understanding sustainable development and participating in practical actions is an important mission for your generation." He also expressed hope that through cooperation, everyone could work to make the nation and the world more beautiful.
Education Empowers a Sustainable Future
Education plays a transformative role in promoting responsible consumption and production and the green economy – it raises awareness of sustainable development concepts and fosters relevant skills.
Salman Asim, Senior Economist at the World Bank, approached the topic from the perspective of economic structure and green transition, pointing out that "green skills" will become crucial in the future labor market. He mentioned that the World Bank is considering introducing "green curricula," establishing industry-education links, and learning from experiences in China and other countries to share with other nations in the region and globally.
He stressed that sustainable education should start with the youth, beginning with “green” campus initiatives, noting that the students today are all part of the forefront of innovation in China and the world.
Responsible Consumption and Production: From Concept to Practice
Responsible production is one of the two key implementation mechanisms for sustainable development. Its core lies in integrating environmental concepts into the entire product lifecycle, achieving efficiency, greenness, and a balanced coordination of social responsibility in manufacturing activities through advanced technology, resource conservation, and environmental protection.
Cao Jing, Assistant Dean of Tsinghua University Xiuzhong College, Chief Professor of Green Economy and Global Governance, Tenured Associate Professor at Tsinghua School of Economics and Management and Member of the AERE and EAERE, shared her academic and professional journey to inspire students to cultivate pro-environmental attitudes from a young age.
She encouraged students to reduce their carbon footprint, and engage with information interventions, pointing out that building a “green society” requires not only technological progress but also changes in everyone's mindset and behavior.
Dr. Benita Sumita, THIS Associate Curriculum Director and advisor of Model United Nations (MUN) and the Sustainability Club at the school took report card's digitization as an example.
In the calculations her students did for a social studies project, digitizing report cards for one academic year saved approximately 4,500 sheets of paper, equivalent to saving about half a tree. According to her, surveys also showed that parents preferred digital report cards as they were less likely to be lost.
She acknowledged that although saving half a tree per year is far from sufficient, it represents a positive start. Sustainable development, she said, should begin with small steps, starting from “saving half a tree.”
Multiple Perspectives: From Green Skills to Campus Practice
During the Roundtable Dialogue with students, panelists including Yang Ying, Secretary-General of the Digital Literacy and Elite Talent Development Working Group, UN SDGs Center, Li Bu, Researcher of Development Research Center of the State Council, and Warda Hakeema Sumardi, Director of Sustainable Development Universiti Brunei Darussalam as well as Cao Jing from Tsinghua University, enjoyed sharing the ideas about sustainable development and the contributions students could make at various stages of their growth.
During an intermission, THIS students performed classic songs Do-Re-Mi and Edelweiss from The Sound of Music, conveying harmony and hope through their singing, and injecting youthful vitality and warmth into the serious discussions.
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Showcase and Interaction: Blending of Creativity and Action
This forum served not only as a platform for intellectual exchange but also as a stage for schools that participated in this event to showcase students' innovative sustainable projects.
Education: Sowing Seeds for a Sustainable Future
In the hope of Principal Zhu, this event is expected be a catalyst for positive change and the source of inspiration for all of us.
Education plays a transformative role in promoting responsible consumption and the green economy – it raises awareness of sustainable development concepts and fosters relevant skills.
By participating in sustainable actions at the school level, the younger generation can not only grasp the meaning of sustainable living but also accumulate valuable experience for the future “green transition”.
The Collaborative Path Towards a Sustainable Future
Achieving the SDGs requires the collective participation of all members of society. Multi-stakeholder cooperation is crucial for realizing goals like sustainable development. Combining responsible consumption, quality education, and a “green economy” constitutes a powerful strategy for advancing the SDGs.
