On 22 April 2025, the 55th World Earth Day, the "Symbiosis" Climate and Sustainability Photography Exhibition officially opened at the Shanghai Botanical Garden. A highlight of Shanghai Climate Week 2025, this year's Climate & Sustainability Photography Awards were co-hosted by Shanghai Climate Week and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), organised by the Shanghai Climate Week Youth Council, and strategically supported by the SEE Foundation (Beijing Entrepreneur Environmental Protection Foundation) and the World Economic Forum Global Shapers Shanghai Hub, with on-the-ground implementation support from WeCarbon. Songtsam provided prizes, and Forbes China was the lead media partner. The awards took as their themes four of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), "Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure", "Climate Action", "Life Below Water" and "Life on Land". Through the vivid work of young creators, data on rising sea levels and lists of extinct species are transformed, through the gaze of the lens, into warm parables of life.
Poster for the "Symbiosis" Climate and Sustainability Photography Exhibition
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Opening Show
The opening ceremony kicked off with a striking "ReVouge 24 Hours" sustainable fashion show. Built around the "ReVouge 24 Hours" concept, the show used fashion to reimagine a sustainable future within a limited 24 hours: through eco-friendly recycled fabrics, zero-waste cutting and modular design, it achieved a fully green chain from raw-material traceability to the consumer. The garments were created jointly by three designers, Jiang Shanzi, Alicia and Li Juan, and each piece is not only flowing ecological art but also an everyday manifesto for sustainable living.
The "ReVouge 24 Hours" sustainable fashion show opens the ceremony
The "ReVouge 24 Hours" sustainable fashion show opens the ceremony
Group photo from the "ReVouge 24 Hours" sustainable fashion show
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Speeches
During the speeches, William Wang, Chief Representative for Asia Pacific of Shanghai Climate Week and Director-General of its Youth Council, said: "Since its launch, this year's photography awards have attracted wide participation from around the world. We received 1,500 entries globally, and after two rounds of professional judging, 40 works (or series) stood out and were selected for the exhibition. With 'light' as its brush and 'shadow' as its bridge, this climate and sustainability photography exhibition now officially begins its global tour, telling the beautiful story of global climate action." Ms. Li Ziying, a member of the Alxa SEE Ecological Association, spoke about the key role of young people in advancing sustainable development, encouraging more young entrepreneurs to commit themselves more actively to tackling climate change.
Mr. William Wang delivers a speech
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Roundtable Discussions
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Two roundtable discussions were held alongside the opening ceremony, bringing together representatives of international organisations, renowned ecological photographers, environmental philanthropists and business representatives to discuss how cross-sector collaboration and artistic storytelling can empower global environmental governance and build a sustainable future. At the "ESG Dialogue from a Global Perspective: Cross-sector Collaboration for Green Development" roundtable, Zheng Pudong, Executive Director of Baichuan New Energy; Chen Xiaobin, Deputy Curator of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers Shanghai Hub; Zhang Xiang, a member of the Alxa SEE Ecological Association; Wang Fang, General Manager of the Sumec Eaton Gide Brand Center; and Han Yang, Secretary-General of the Boke Charity Foundation, presented the ESG practices of Chinese companies and discussed how to drive green development through cross-sector collaboration.
Roundtable: ESG Dialogue from a Global Perspective: Cross-sector Collaboration for Green Development
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The "Art for a Sustainable Future" roundtable focused on the intersection of art and environmental protection. Liu Weiyu, a representative of Parsons alumni in China; independent artist Wang Jingyi; Li Juan, founder of the couture label Blue-Confidant; Jiang Shanzi, founder of the sustainable fashion brand Guanxia; and visual artist Zhang Beichen discussed how artistic storytelling can raise public environmental awareness.
Roundtable: Art for a Sustainable Future
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Closing Remarks
At the close of the event, Ms. Remoca Shi, Founder and Executive President of WeCarbon, Deputy Secretary-General of the Secretariat of the Shanghai Climate Week Executive Committee and Secretary-General of its Youth Council, summed up: "This exhibition is both an ecological declaration from the younger generation to the world and an answer on symbiosis written in a contemporary visual language. In the opening and closing of the shutter, what is captured is not only a fleeting moment of light and shadow, but humanity's enduring hope for a sustainable future."
Ms. Remoca Shi hosting the event
Alice Ho, Director-General of the Shanghai Climate Week Youth Council, looked ahead in her closing remarks: "The Shanghai Climate Week Youth Council will continue to use photography and fashion art as a bond to build bridges for global dialogue on ecological civilisation and encourage young people worldwide to take active climate action."
Ms. Alice Ho delivers closing remarks
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Exhibition Information
Theme: Symbiosis
Dates: 22 April – 24 May 2025
Venue: Building 4, Gate 4, Shanghai Botanical Garden (Nature Education Centre)
Curators: Jiang Chenqi, Sha Mo, Remoca Shi
