On March 20, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) China Office hosted a 2026 World Water Day symposium in Beijing. Yang Cierzhima, a 2024 undergraduate student majoring in Textile Engineering at School of Textiles and Fashion of SUES, was invited to attend the event. As a young female representative of the Naxi ethnic group, she delivered a speech in the session themed “Water and Gender”. Integrating her childhood memories by Lugu Lake with water resource protection practices, she showcased the original aspiration and sense of responsibility of Chinese youth in safeguarding water resources to the world.
“Human and water can accompany each other for a lifetime.” With delicate and sincere words, Yang Cierzhima shared her growth story by Lugu Lake. The precious childhood memory of floating on the lake with a wooden board fostered a deep affection and unique reflection on water resources in her heart. She stated that her greatest wish is for future generations to still experience the beauty of ecological water, rather than only knowing “bottled water and tap water”. She also raised profound questions from the younger generation on balancing ecological protection and development, striking a strong chord with guests both on-site and online.
Yang Cierzhima noted that standing on the platform of United Nations made her deeply realize that “what is seen by the world is not necessarily grand plans or precise data; simple perseverance also holds power”. The responsibility of youth lies in speaking out sincerely, and the power of women is as soft yet firm as flowing water. Protecting water resources is never a solo effort, but a shared mission for everyone who loves Nature. She pledged to continue starting with small daily water-saving actions, inspire more young people to participate in water conservation, and make the voice of Chinese youth in water protection heard in global water governance.
As a college student, Yang Cierzhima has long been concerned about ecological and environmental protection. She has actively participated in voluntary activities such as campus water-saving publicity and community water environment science popularization, practicing the concept of water conservation with concrete actions, and turning her love for her hometown into practical efforts to protect the ecology.
It is reported that UNDP has been implementing water programmes in China since 2007, launching nearly 70 water-related projects, and continuously promoting the coordinated development of community participation, environmental sustainability and gender equality. Yang Cierzhima’s participation in this event is a vivid example of Chinese youth engaging in global ecological governance.
