On December 7th 2025, the 5th Universities for Goal 13 Award (UG13) Greater China Finals, organized by the Institute for Sustainable Development Goals of Tsinghua University (Tsinghua SDG Institute) and supported by Pernod Ricard China, was held successfully in the Auditorium Hall of the School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University.
After rigorous evaluation and professional guidance, 10 teams shortlisted for the final round of the 5th UG13 Greater China Finals. 'Green Blackout Busters' and 'ECOBEAM' from Tsinghua University, 'Mangroovers' from the Sun-Yat sen University won the ‘Winning Prize’ of UG13 Greater China Finals. And 'Mangroovers' from the Sun-Yat sen University won the ‘Pernod Ricard China Special Award’ (teams listed in a random order). The ‘Winning Prize’ team will go on to represent the Greater China region in the global competition.
Winning Prize teams（From top to the bottom：'Green Blackout Busters'，'ECOBEAM'，'Mangroovers'）
Xufeng Zhu, Executive Director of Tsinghua SDG Institute, Dean and Professor of School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, delivered the welcome speech on behalf of the host of UG13 Greater China Finals; Kathie Wang, Vice President of Communications and S&R, Pernod Ricard China, delivered opening remarks of the event.
Xufeng Zhu delivered welcome speech
Xufeng Zhu said in his speech that global climate governance is facing unprecedented urgency as the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) has concluded and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) enters its tenth year. At the same time, the consensus reached between China and the EU on climate cooperation during President Macron’s visit to China continues to deepen, and this cooperation is bringing new momentum to the global green transition. Universities carry an important mission in this context, with the Universities for Goal 13 Award (UG13) serves as a platform that promotes interdisciplinary exchange and the development of innovative climate solutions. And it further stimulates the creativity and sense of responsibility among young students and encourages them to propose ideas and solutions that can genuinely contribute to global sustainable development.
Kathie Wang delivered opening remarks
Kathie Wang said that Pernod Ricard China has supported the competition for five consecutive years. By establishing the 'Pernod Ricard Special Award', the company encourages students to integrate sustainability concepts with practical innovation. As a company that has been deeply involved in China for many years, Pernod Ricard China continues to advance sustainable practices in areas such as regenerative agriculture, low-carbon production, and the use of renewable energy. In the future, Pernod Ricard China will keep supporting young people in their exploration of climate and sustainability issues and will encourage them to discover and present more diverse innovative pathways for sustainable development.
The competition was judged by Junming Zhu, Vice Director of Tsinghua SDG Institute, Associate Dean and Associate Professor, School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University; Kathie Wang and science content creator “Little Q” on video platforms.
Junming Zhu, Kathie Wang and Little Q (left to right)
Ten teams presented their projects around SDG 13: Climate Action. Their proposals covered a wide range of frontier areas, including energy transition, ecosystem restoration, green circular systems, and urban climate risk management. These projects addressed the pressing needs of global climate governance and reflected the unique strengths of universities in advancing technological innovation and practical applications. By drawing on interdisciplinary knowledge and technological advances, the teams put forward solutions with strong practical potential for key issues such as resource recycling, mangrove conservation, and climate resilience building. During the presentations session, the teams demonstrated the passion and commitment of young students to sustainable development. In the Q&A session, the judges engaged in in-depth discussions with the participants on cutting-edge technologies and practical implementation with the feedback inspired further thinking, helped refine the proposed solutions, and clarified potential directions for improvement and application.
Group photo (on-site)
Group photo (online)
The Universities for SDG13 Award (UG13) is a worldwide competition jointly initiated by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN) and Siemens Energy. Launched in 2022, the competition aims to identify and support climate innovation proposals from young students around the world through professional evaluation and mentorship. The competition has achieved remarkable results over the years. In the inaugural edition, the Chinese student team won the global prize. The second, third, and fourth editions continued to attract strong international attention and received positive recognition, establishing the competition as an important platform for youth engagement in climate action. In the fourth edition, the Chinese student team team was given an honorable mention, which was presented for the first time in the competition’s history. As the organizer for the Greater China region, the Tsinghua SDG Institute promotes the participation of university students in SDG 13: Climate Action and encourages them to explore and propose innovative solutions with practical potential for addressing global climate challenges. The competition also seeks to enhance students’ climate literacy and innovation capabilities, laying a solid foundation for cultivating future climate leaders.
