Editor’s note

Tsinghua University plays an active role in promoting the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by nurturing innovative talents, enhancing research, among many other important ways.

This piece features the story of Xu Jiaxin, a 2019 undergraduate student in the Global Environment Program at Tsinghua University's School of Environment, passionate about global environmental governance and sustainable development. Jiaxin has diversified working experiences at government, private sector, and international organizations, including UNDP, UNESCO, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Boston Consulting Group, etc. After graduation, Jiaxin will pursue further studies in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School.

“Environmental protection is not a stupid tax,” Xu Jiaxin said firmly.

“People working for environment are typically dedicated to their career plans and aspiration. They just want to do their part to contribute to a better future,” she continued.

Now working as a Policy and Coordination Assistant at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Jiaxin plans to devote her life to sustainable policy formulation and implementation. Her story with this career starts at Tsinghua University.

Jiaxin working in the United Nations

Starting Point

As a Tsinghua student, Jiaxin attributed much of her resolve in environmental protection to the cultivation mode of her School and the program she studied in.

“Global Environment Program has provided plenty of opportunities for students to pursue their own targets and achieve diversified future career goals,” she said.

Thanks to the open, supporting, and inclusive atmosphere, she has participated in various international conferences as a youth delegate, such as the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA5.2), the Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP), the Sino-American Youth Dialogue, and the GAUC Net-zero Summit. She also facilitated the United Nations in drafting the global food waste analysis report.

Jiaxin acting as chairperson of the 6th MCCCOP

Commitment

Inspired by her on-campus learning, Jiaxin decided to work for the Energy Foundation China.

She was part of the President Office team and helped bridge cooperation between the government and enterprises to enhance public-private communication.

“Our work focused on clean energy transition and redirecting financial resources to green areas, especially in developing countries” she added.

During her internship, Jiaxin drafted a research proposal on renewable energy development in China and the EU, analyzing the current situation, prospects, and future opportunities and challenges of coal phase-out and clean energy expansion, as well as drawing on experience for innovative and effective low-carbon pathways.

Jiaxin interning at Energy Foundation China

“I always ponder how these best practices can be brought back to China,” Jiaxin said.

These thoughts drove Jiaxin to make more efforts. Later she successfully facilitated US-China dialogues regarding climate solution advancement, where she invited representatives from resource-intensive cities all over the world to discuss initiatives for energy transition.

Jiaxin in Sino-American Youth Dialogue

Jiaxin also participated in carbon disclosure at CDP Center. She assisted in establishing the disclosure website and designed demonstrative videos and instructive manuals for corporation ESG responsibility promotion. Jiaxin introduced a ranking system to link the performance in carbon disclosure with the company’s reputation, successfully creating incentives for carbon emission reduction action.

Jiaxin has been facing many challenges when pursuing her ambitious sustainable development goals. “One of the most crucial challenges is to link public policy with various social sectors, especially the for-profit enterprises.”

“There is still a long way to go for China’s dual carbon goals,” she commented.

But the current progress and the future prospect is promising. Passionate youngsters like Jiaxin are committing themselves to this ongoing noble mission.

“I hope every little effort from every single person will make a difference someday.”

Jiaxin as a representative in China Week

Ambition

Jiaxin is never satisfied with what she has accomplished and keeps working hard. She wants to do more.

In 2021, Jiaxin co-founded KnowCarbon to explore the business prospects of low-carbon entrepreneurship.

The startup successfully integrated blockchain and artificial intelligence technologies to provide families and enterprises with a full set of carbon solutions based on a SaaS (Software As A Service) platform.

In the past two years, KnowCarbon has developed into a wide-coverage family carbon account as a carbon-pet mobile assistant to develop a mobile IP for daily recording of carbon emissions.

Jiaxin presenting co-founded entrepreneurship

Jiaxin also showed her kindness and warmness and was named Person of the Year at the School of Environment in 2020 for her influential and innovative social practice in child care for congenital heart disease.

Future

After graduating from Tsinghua University this year, Jiaxin will further her studies in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School, continuously focusing on global environmental governance and inequity issues all over the world.

“SDG is a comprehensive framework. Green environmental initiatives, like affordable energy and climate adaptation, can contribute to other SDG goals such as eradicating hunger, poverty, and guaranteeing the rights of women and children.”

“Every initiative I’ve taken so far is just small steps to realize my environmental aspirations and achieve sustainable development targets in the long run. I will keep it up!” she said.