The 2023 Mitsubishi Electric China Youth Environmental Protection Activity was held in Shanghai from Oct 13 to 14.

The activity was jointly organized by the China International Youth Exchange Center (CIYEC), Mitsubishi Electric (China) Co., Ltd., and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU).

In his speech at the event, Chen Peng, Deputy Director of the CIYEC, said that in the historical progress of promoting high-quality development, the youth should be advocates of green development concepts, practitioners of green lifestyles and explorers of green recovery and development. He expressed his hope that through the activity, the CIYEC could facilitate young people from different countries to build consensus on, share the responsibility of, and take concrete actions for green development, and strive to inject youth energy into the building of a cleaner and more beautiful Earth.

Kawabata Katsuya, Chief Representative in China of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, said that the Mitsubishi Electric will leverage its technological advantage in four major fields of intelligent manufacturing, smart city, intelligent mobility, and quality life to promote sustainable operation with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality, and strive to build itself into a recycling and digitalized industrial enterprise and contribute to China’s carbon neutrality goal.

Experts and scholars from Mitsubishi Electric (China) Co., Ltd., Japanese National Institute for Environmental Studies, the SJTU, the China University of Mining and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, the City University of Hong Kong and Shanghai University shared experiences and academic study outcomes in their areas and had in-depth exchanges focusing on the topic of realizing the dual carbon goals and jointly promoting green development.

Participants generally agreed that energy conservation and efficiency improvement, as well as the development of new energy, is the fundamental path to realizing energy transition. Promoting realization of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality is not only the responsibility of producers but also a common responsibility shared by all members of the society, they said.

Zhang Jie, a young entrepreneur of low-carbon industry service in South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said that what the experts and scholars shared at this event are excellent outcomes in the integration of the industry, universities and scientific research institutions. It provided effective paths for relevant enterprises to enhance cooperation in the green economy, such as energy conservation and environmental protection, he said.

Ota Sachie, a Japanese student studying at the SJTU, said that the event has broadened his professional horizons and helped him realize the urgency of environmental protection, adding that he has strengthened his determination to engage in environmental protection after graduation.

Ni Yueyong, Director of the environmental promotion office of the Mitsubishi Electric, said that this activity held in a university has expanded its cooperation platform and is conductive to harnessing the role of universities in supporting the activity with in technology and talent resources. It will provide more opportunities of exchange and mutual learning for youth to dedicate themselves to green research, energy saving and environmental protection, and intelligent manufacturing, he said.

Geng Yong, Dean of the School of Environmental Science and Engineering of the SJTU, and Maita Mai, Head of the press and culture office of the Consulate General of Japan in Shanghai, also attended and addressed the event.

During the event, participants also visited relevant enterprises in Shanghai.