Report】"FY 2020 High School Students' Global Environment School Online Exchange Meeting" Commissioned by Yokkaichi City was held.

Summary

　ICETT held the "FY 2020 High School Students' Global Environment School Online Exchange Meeting" as a project commissioned by Yokkaichi City.

Background and Objectives

　Every year during the summer vacation, we invite high school students from Tianjin, China, Yokkaichi's friendship city, and Long Beach, USA, our sister city, and hold "High School Students Global Environment School" to train and exchange opinions on environmental issues together with Yokkaichi high school students. However, due to the new coronavirus, the training could not be held this year as in the past. However, an online exchange was held for alumni who participated in the Global Environment School in the past to provide them with an opportunity to think about environmental issues from an international perspective and to reflect on what they learned at the Global Environment School.

Contents

　On November 15, 2020, the online exchange meeting was divided into two sessions: 1) exchange between the Yokkaichi team and the Long Beach team, and 2) exchange between the Yokkaichi team and the Tianjin team. In the exchange meeting, participants exchanged opinions on solutions for a fictional country (city) with environmental problems that had been set up in advance, followed by a review of the Global Environment School they had participated in.

Exchange between Yokkaichi team and Long Beach team

　During the exchange between the Yokkaichi and Long Beach teams, a lively exchange of opinions took place on the subject of a fictional nation with a plastic waste problem. The following opinions were expressed during the exchange.

• (Through the exchange of opinions) I thought that the U.S. and Japan must make a strong determination to eliminate our dependence on plastic. In particular, I think we should think about reusing what we have now. In the U.S., we are often told to promote recycling, but even if we recycle, the fact remains that it will become garbage in the future, so I think it is important to have an attitude of not producing garbage. (Student, City of Long Beach)

Exchange between Yokkaichi team and Tianjin team

　During the exchange between the Yokkaichi and Tianjin teams, there was a lively exchange of ideas on how to achieve a "green recovery," in which a fictional city economically impacted by the new coronavirus aims to improve its environment while recovering its economy.

• I am studying industrial engineering at university. So, why don't you create a factory that uses a lot of robots with built-in AI to automate industry? This way, we can reduce the number of workers and keep the factory running without having to go out and stop production. Even if you can't go out, you can use your PC at home to operate the robots. (Tianjin student)

  Through the Global Environment School in which I participated

　At both social events, participants exchanged opinions about what they have gained from past participation in the Global Environment School and how it has led them to the present.

• During the Global Environment School, a visit to one of the companies left a lasting impression on me, and I was given a detailed explanation of everything from raw materials to disposal. This inspired me to enter the engineering department at university, as I wanted to become an engineer who cares about being "earth-friendly. In terms of international exchange, I really enjoyed talking with people from overseas about environmental issues until midnight, or talking about love, which is something only high school students can do, and I am really glad that I participated. (Student from Yokkaichi, Japan)

Results and Prospects

  Although the event was conducted in the form of an online exchange due to the effects of the new coronavirus, we were able to have a lively discussion about solutions to environmental problems. Above all, we were able to feel once again the deep influence of the Global Environment School on the career paths and lifestyles of the students who experienced the program.

　We hope that through the friendship formed at the Global Environment School, the students, who are the future leaders of their respective cities, will continue their exchanges, and that in the near future they will be active as human resources to improve environmental problems in the friendship cities of Tianjin and Long Beach and Yokkaichi, and to serve as bridges of friendship between the sister cities. （I wish you all the best in the near future.)