China: Youth Group Tackles Climate Change

China Youth Climate Action Network (CYCAN) is a two-time Greengrants grantee that is tackling climate change in a country that needs grassroots action.

China has the highest carbon dioxide emissions in the world, and their rapid growth means that their contribution to climate change will continue to worsen. This Beijing-based student group is raising awareness about the climate crisis and doing their part to minimize carbon emissions on school campuses.

Established in 2007 by seven environmental youth organizations, CYCAN is uniting student action and resources to combat climate change. It is the first and largest organization in China that promotes youth participation in climate change mitigation. Over the last three years, CYCAN has expanded to over 200 university campuses, and they are using small grants from Global Greengrants Fund to take action:

• In 2007, CYCAN used a small grant to map energy usage on 16 university campuses. By engaging students across China, the project raised awareness about climate change and the importance of energy efficiency in mitigating carbon emissions. These energy audits have also enabled the group to push for better efficiency and sustainability at their schools.
• In 2008, a $3,700 grant to CYCAN funded the creation of their China Youth Climate Change Guidebook. The guidebook was distributed on university campuses across China. It raised awareness about the grave threats of climate change, and it educated students on steps they can take to reduce their impact on the planet.

You can support groups like China Youth Climate Action Network by donating to the Greengrants Climate Fund. These grassroots leaders are taking important steps to mitigate climate change, but they need your help!

Give now to support grassroots climate justice around the world.