RCE Suzhou - 2023

Bugs 4 Oceans
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Bugs 4 Oceans
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Suzhou
Contributing organization(s) : 
Suzhou Green Light Year
IBSS of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Wenzhu GONG
Organizational Affiliation: 
RCE Suzhou
E-mail: 
gongwenzhu@rcesuzhou.org
Format of project: 
PowerPoint
Language of project: 
Chinese and English
Date of submission:
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
《提升海洋强国软实力——全民海洋意识宣传教育和文化建设“十三五”规划》
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Asia-Pacific
Country: 
China
Location(s): 
Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China
Address of focal point institution for project: 
2F, 13#, xinping street, Suzhou Industrial Park
Ecosystem(s):
Coastal
Target Audience:
Community, Teacher Ed., Youth (Informal)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Suzhou is an economically developed and happy city with a large number of pet lovers gathered in Suzhou. The Higher Education Town (HET) in SIP is home to many universities or university branches. The area is designed with many green spaces, and many stray kittens and puppies.
Many residents choose to buy pet food with raw materials containing high protein marine species, such as, tuna.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
The rapid growth of the pet economy has resulted in significant carbon emissions from food transportation. The demand for raw materials for pet food has rapidly shifted to marine species, such as tuna for cat food. This has led to a dramatic decline in the populations of a large number of marine species.
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
February, 2022
Rationale: 
For public:
1)Raise Awareness: Through education, we can raise awareness of how insect protein pet foods are relevant to marine conservation and raise environmental concerns.
2)Reduce Prejudice and Misconceptions: Many people have preconceptions and misconceptions about insect protein pet food. By educating the public about the direct benefits of insect protein pet foods, we can help dispel these prejudices.
3)Foster sustainable lifestyles: Education can inspire people to think about the impact of their consumption behavior on the environment and ecosystems. Bugs 4 Oceans can inspire people to shift to more sustainable lifestyles, thereby contributing to the sustainability of society.
4)Inspire Action: Through public education, we can inspire the public to take practical action in support of marine ecological conservation and the transformation of sustainable food systems.
5)Build awareness of social responsibility: Education helps people recognize their responsibilities to the environment and society. Bugs 4 Oceans builds awareness of social responsibility and encourages people to contribute to sustainable development.
For youth who is making positive effects on public:
1)Build Leadership and Influence: youth in Bugs 4 Oceans can become an advocate and expert in the field of sustainability, delivering a positive message to society while building their own leadership and influence.
Objectives: 
1)Learning Outcomes: we have taken 8 PBL projects on insect protein food and sustainable food transformation since 2022.
a.In 2022, 1 PBL project won the global first place of ISCES held by UNEP (totally 3 youth finalist projects);
b.In 2023, 1 PBL projects is the finalist of Youth4Climate (held by UNDP), and the team leader will travel to Roma in October for the final pitch.
c.In 2023 April, Bugs 4 Oceans’ supervisor was invited to attend 4th Sustainable Food System Transformation Global Conference in Vietnam.
d.In 2023, all team leaders and supervisors (10 delegates) are invited by to attend the World Food Forum 2023 at Roma in October by UNFAO.
2)Goals: empower youth with ESD and material issues of SDG, and ensure youth to be a ESD tutor.
3)Teaching Outcomes: all projects were reported online in Global Youth Climate Week of 2022 and over 10, 000 audiences watched it. And over 1 million readers read the 100 Thousands Why and learn how is food produced from farm to table.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
We use one and half years to do the researches on public awareness of choosing insect protein pet food can protect ocean biodiversity, and insect protein pet food’s market.
Our research outcomes are qualified by international youth pitches about SDG solutions: In 2022, 1 PBL project won the global first place of ISCES held by UNEP (totally 3 youth finalist projects); In 2023, 1 PBL projects is the finalist of Youth4Climate (held by UNDP), and the team leader will travel to Roma in October for the final pitch.
We popularize SDG Goals and the concept of insect protein pet food can protect ocean biodiversity by reporting our research outcomes in Global Youth Climate Week of 2022, being invited to publish our research report on national journal and magazines, and being invited to attend relevant international/global conferences or forums.
We officially launched Bugs 4 Oceans to officially popularize through Tiktok, Wechat Video, article, and broadcasting.
Size of academic audience: 
Approximately over 10, 000 persons since 2022
Results: 
Bugs 4 Oceans Program won’t stop. By August 31, 2023, we have achieve:
a.In 2022, 1 PBL project won the global first place of ISCES held by UNEP (totally 3 youth finalist projects);
b.In 2023, 1 PBL projects is the finalist of Youth4Climate (held by UNDP), and the team leader will travel to Roma in October for the final pitch.
c.In 2023 April, Bugs 4 Oceans’ supervisor was invited to attend 4th Sustainable Food System Transformation Global Conference in Vietnam.
d.In 2023, all team leaders and supervisors (10 delegates) are invited by to attend the World Food Forum 2023 at Roma in October by UNFAO.
all projects were reported online in Global Youth Climate Week of 2022 and over 10, 000 audiences watched it. And over 1 million readers read the 100 Thousands Why and learn how is food produced from farm to table.
Lessons learned: 
Education for Sustainable Development does not only mean teaching public the sustainable lifestyles, it concludes how to teach.
To ensure youth have ability to empower other ages, supervisors should use the inclusive and fashion methodology to teach youth what is the sustainable development and why should public practice sustainable lifestyles.
Key messages: 
To make all ages can happily practice sustainable development, empowering youth with SDG is necessary.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
Bugs 4 Oceans recruits voluntary youth from the world all the year. We have the plan to jointly hold the following activities with other RCE to hold per year:
1)RCE ESD Youth Summit
PBL projects about SDG material issues, for instance, how to promote sustainable food system transformation in a local community?
References and reference materials: 
PDF icon Insect Engine Team_Youth4Climate.pdf
File Green Light Year Channel.docx
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Indirect
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Indirect
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Direct
Theme
Traditional Knowledge  
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Indirect
Update: 
No
I acknowledge the above: 
Yes