In recent years, reports from the United Nations World Meteorological Organization have indicated that nearly every year has set new records for the hottest global temperatures, with 2024 potentially seeing even worse conditions. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for urgent global action to prevent the onset of "climate hell." In response, the Vision Project Foundation and the Taiwan Youth Association for Sustainable Development, with Cathay Financial Holdings co-sponsoring the initiative, organized the "Every Year is the Hottest Year" Climate Crisis Photography Exhibition, which is touring universities across Taiwan. The exhibition features the Vision Project Foundation's in-depth reports on key public issues such as climate change and highlights outstanding works from its July 2024 photography competition. The goal is to guide participants in understanding the far-reaching impacts of the climate crisis on our future, from a global perspective to our local lives.

The "Every Year is the Hottest Year" Climate Crisis Photography Exhibition was made possible by the efforts of the student groups "NDHU Climate Action Society" and "NDHU Bowl Rental," in collaboration with the Center for Sustainable Development. The exhibition is being held from October 5 to October 19, 2024, on the first floor of the Library Building, National Dong Hwa University, with an opening ceremony on October 7. Distinguished guests including Cheng Chang, Executive Director of the Vision Project Foundation, and Hung-Chun Chen, Vice Chairman of the Taiwan Youth Association for Sustainable Development, addressed the audience at the Shoufeng Campus.

From Global to Local, Facing the Climate Crisis Together

During his speech, Cheng Chang, Executive Director of the Vision Project Foundation, emphasized that the exhibition aims to awaken younger generations to the importance of the climate crisis and urged everyone to take action: "Every corner of the world needs our efforts to tackle this global challenge together." He also announced that the foundation will continue to promote similar exhibitions on more campuses and actively participate in international climate change initiatives in the future.

National Dong Hwa University's Chief Sustainability Officer and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development, Chun-Hung Lee, expressed pride in the university's performance in the THE Impact Rankings and WURI rankings. With the support and encouragement of NDHU President, Hui-Mi Hsu is set to collaborate with the Environmental Protection Bureau, Hualien County to offer greenhouse gas inventory training. This initiative aims to bridge the regional divide between eastern and western Taiwan through education. Sheau-Hwa Chen, Head of the Governance Strategy Division at the Center for Sustainable Development, also emphasized the importance of intergenerational consensus and introduced the upcoming "Sustainable Campus, Sustainable NDHU" event, encouraging students to actively participate in creating a sustainable campus.

Youth Voices, Unstoppable Action

The exhibition not only showcases professional photographers' powerful images of the global climate crisis, but also features displays on waste management and the circular economy by the student group "NDHU Bowl Rental." Additionally, the "NDHU Climate Action Society" presents the sustainability and climate actions they have implemented and promoted at NDHU, while the Taiwan Youth Association for Sustainable Development shares the involvement of sustainability communities from various universities across Taiwan.

Hung-Chun Chen, Vice Chairman of the Taiwan Youth Association for Sustainable Development, stated, "Sustainable development must begin with the youth. Through the association's 'Campus Manager Program,' we hope to cultivate more campus sustainability leaders." He thanked NDHU for its support of students and the younger generation and praised the creativity and dedication of NDHU's student teams in their climate action efforts, encouraging more young people to join the sustainability movement.

In addition to the powerful images, the "Every Year is the Hottest Year" Climate Crisis Photography Exhibition features several interactive installations, such as eco-friendly display boards made from recycled plastic tiles and a "Climate Constellation Personality Test." These elements engage visitors more deeply in understanding climate change, the United Nations Climate Change Conference（Conference of Parties, COP）, and reflecting on their own roles in these issues.