On 13 June, we were delighted to welcome new participants to the Winds of Change North Asia 2023 cohort. The hybrid event, held in Auckland and online, provided a valuable opportunity for students to get to know each other and the academic mentors who will be guiding them on their Winds of Change journey.

The Winds of Change programme brings together postgraduate students and young professionals from New Zealand and China to investigate common climate change issues and sustainable development strategies for the future. The welcome day enabled participants to learn more about the Winds of Change programme and the climate change context in Aotearoa New Zealand and China.

Alistair Crozier, Executive Director of the New Zealand China Council, gave an insightful presentation on the New Zealand-China relationship. Emilly Fan, a Harvard University Schwarzman Scholar currently based at Tsinghua University Beijing, explained how perceptions of climate change differ in the two countries.

The current impacts of climate change in Aotearoa New Zealand were explored in a panel session featuring our academic mentors: Professor Wei Gao, Dr Wiebke Finkler, Nathalie Wierdak, Dr Alex Lo, and Dr Raaniera Te Whata.

We wish new participants all the very best in their progress through the programme in the months ahead. Watch this space for further updates.