Written by: Chen Hong-Jun, Student of the Academy
In recent years, our university has encouraged students to engage in sustainability research and action through self-directed learning courses. Honors College has also promoted the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by organizing a competition for sustainable action proposals. However, when facing complex sustainability issues, what exactly can young people do? On March 14, during the College Day Lecture, the student union invited senior CSR@天下 journalist Zheng Yu-Ru to share with us "U20 Youth Development 101: From Caring for the Earth to Sustainable Action.
Instructor Zheng started by discussing her own sustainable action, "Doing Something for the Tamsui River." To this day, nearly 3% of the river's segments are heavily polluted, with the pollution coming not only from household wastewater discharged by the public but, more seriously, from industrial wastewater from enterprises. "CSR@天下" raised public awareness through investigative reporting and the documentary A River Creature’s Confession, calling for both the public and businesses to jointly sign the "Tamsui River Covenant" and work together to "do something for the Tamsui River."
In addition to sustainability reporting and advocacy, influenced by "Climate Girl" Greta Thunberg, "CSR@天下" brought together a group of passionate young people in Taiwan who care about environmental and social issues in 2020 to organize the U20 International Youth Forum. This forum provides a platform for them to engage in cross-generational dialogue with government officials and entrepreneurs, working together to create a better world. Reporter Zheng Yu-Ru served as the forum leader for two consecutive years, with the hope of empowering youth to make an impact in the field of sustainability.
As for how youth can begin their sustainability actions and even become part of the U20, Reporter Zheng discovered during her interviews that "everyone's starting point is different." She encouraged the academy students to observe and pay attention to the issues that resonate with them and fill them with motivation. She also shared a quote from Soul (Soul, the animated film) — "The spark is the passion of being alive, not the purpose of being alive" — hoping that everyone can find their passion and feel the value of living.
Regarding resources for sustainable action, participating in sustainability courses and lectures, entering competitions, or doing internships at companies or volunteering at non-profit organizations are all viable options. However, Reporter Zheng emphasized, "Sustainable action doesn't have to be difficult; even researching is a form of action." She believes that as long as we make a 0.1% effort each day, improving a little more than yesterday, it's enough. Finally, Instructor Zheng Yu-Ru used Kahoot to help the academy students review the shared content and wished everyone, "Be brave in taking action and find your own sustainability spark."
