In spring 2026, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Tsinghua University in China launched the “GreenPulse for Youth” initiative to integrate green skills into student social practice programmes. The collaboration, based on the ILO Guide on Core Skills for the Green Transition, combined professional guidance with student-led development of educational resources. Through this effort, 168 youth pioneers reached nearly 9,300 people in China and abroad, spreading green literacy and competencies tailored to local development needs.
The initiative mobilized 13 student delegations who organized 55 lectures and workshops across 10 provinces in China and three ASEAN countries. Participants included students, enterprise employees, rural farmers, grassroots officials, and community members. The youth pioneers adapted green skills to local socio-economic demands, embedding them into vocational training, enterprise production, and community governance.
In Hunan Province, youth delegations addressed environmental challenges in the ceramics and fireworks industries, integrating green awareness and production practices into training and local governance. In Zhejiang Province, outreach extended to families and communities through interactive workshops with the Women’s Federation and children.
Beyond China, youth pioneers engaged with students in Vietnam and Thailand, sharing case studies such as zero-carbon factories to illustrate the link between green skills, career pathways, and employability. These exchanges deepened understanding of how the green transition impacts labour markets and future opportunities.
The initiative builds on the GreenPulse programme launched in 2025 under the Quality Apprenticeship and Lifelong Learning in China Project. By positioning youth as drivers of the socio-economic green transition, the ILO-Tsinghua collaboration equips them with practical skills, fosters innovation, and strengthens public awareness of green employment. This action-oriented approach contributes to the global just transition by harnessing youth energy and leadership.
