At present, in the context of global warming, responding to climate change and mitigating the climate crisis has become one of the major global challenges. Whether from the businesses, science, non-governmental organizations or education, we all hope to make contributions and promote climate action. Therefore, Will Legend promotes the “Sustainable Development and Path of Coexistence” initiative. We hope to implement philosophy and practices simultaneously, and work together with scientists, business and organizational representatives, teachers, students and the public to promote a bright future of sustainable development for mankind and nature.

This time, Will Legend will use “Glacier” as the starting point for climate action. This year marks the “60th Anniversary of Dongjiang Water Supply to Hong Kong”. Will Legend hopes to promote the protection of the “White Giant” and protect the river source of the people of both places through “When you drink water, think of its source”. By visiting the source of Urumqi River, Tianshan Glacier No. 1, the public will better understand the importance of protecting “Glaciers” to humans, society, economy and nature.

Will Legend makes it easier for the public to understand the goals of the “Green-blueprint” through one of the following climate actions. At the same time, we hope that you can connect to the “Green-blueprint” platform to jointly promote the Integration of “Glacier, Land, Ocean and Sustainable Development”.

Action: 1.5°C-ClimateAction™ “Let the Glacier Cool – Xinjiang Tianshan Glacier No. 1 Journey”

Objective: Promotes the Integration of “Green-blueprint” Glacier, Land and Ocean, Moves Towards a Sustainable Future for “Humans, Society, Economy and Nature”

Location: Xinjiang (Urumqi, Yili, Turpan)

Practice: Promotes the Sharing of Economic Achievements, Inclusive Society, Harmonious Coexistence between Humans and Nature, and Implements the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Climate Goal Initiatives

Audience: SDG&STEAM™ Experiential Education Trip (Schools), SDG-in-China™ Research Trip (Enterprises and Organizations)

“Green-blueprint” promotes the integration of Glacier, Land and Ocean. Will Legend supports the promotion of green development through new energy, green industries, eco-tourism, etc., and promotes the sustainable development of humans and nature. By protecting glaciers, we protect the land; by protecting the land, we protect the ocean; by protecting the ocean, we protect the glaciers. Nature and human beings are closely linked, influencing and relying on each other.

Safeguards Glacier and Water

SDG-in-China China in Action™ embarks on the source of Urumqi River, Tianshan Glacier No. 1 to practice “When you drink water, think of its source. Same roots, same heart”. Walks into the Tianshan Glaciological Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and 3,850-meter-high Tiangeer Peak. Awakens the “White Giant” to protect glaciers, glacial water resources (freshwater resources), and the cryosphere. “Let the Glacier Cool” calls on more people to pay attention to climate change and the climate crisis through action, and protect the world’s water tower.

Safeguards Land and Food

Flying over the Hundred Mile Gallery “Sunflower Biodiversity Charging Station” in Tangbula, Yili Prefecture, Xinjiang, the “Sustainable Health Action” builds a “Bee City at an Altitude of 1,800 Meters”. Green industries take root in the Tianshan Mountains and build livable communities. The “Urban Wildlife Corridor” creates a sustainable city and works with bee guardians to protect the “Home for Bees”, promote biodiversity and ensure a good food harvest.

Safeguards Ocean and Air

The meltwater from the Tianshan glaciers turns into an ice lake, which nurtures the gifts “seafood” from the ocean. The glaciers and the land work together to create an ocean on the oasis. The ocean and the glaciers work together to inject sustainability into the land’s economy. The glacial water builds sustainable fisheries where “farthest from the ocean”, helping local people increase their income, accelerating rural assistance and rural revitalization. “Let the Ocean Breathe” protects the breath from the ocean (absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen).

The glaciers in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the huge glaciers in Xinjiang, such as the Qilian Mountains, Altai Mountains, Tianshan Mountains and Kunlun Mountains form clean glacial water sources. Here is the starting point of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, the mother rivers of the Chinese, and also the birthplace of 13 rivers in Asia, including the Mekong River, the Indus River, and the Ganges River. There is also the only river in China that flows northward into the Arctic Ocean – the Irtysh River, originating from the Altai Mountains. Preserving glaciers is vital for the well-being of individuals and communities worldwide.

Xinjiang Tianshan Glacier No. 1 is located at the northern foothills of Tianger Peak in the middle section of the Tianshan Mountains, at an altitude of 3,850 meters. It is also known as Glacier No. 1 – the source of Urumqi River. It is about 130 kilometers north of Urumqi and is the closest glacier to a city in the world.

China has established a glacier observation station on Tianshan Glacier No. 1 since 1959. Observations have found that Tianshan Glacier No. 1 has been retreating since the 1960s. The east and west ice tongues completely separated in 1993 due to continuous shrinkage, becoming two independent glaciers.

Tianshan Glaciological Station of the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences pointed out that from 1964 to 2018, the area of Glacier No. 1 decreased by 22%. In recent years, through the ban on grazing, hunting, and mining resource development activities, the ecological environment of the Urumqi River Basin has gradually improved, making certain contributions to the protection of glaciers.

Glaciers are known as “Solid Water Tower” and play an important role in supplementing and regulating river runoff. Glaciers play a vital role in the global water cycle, storing nearly two-thirds of the Earth’s fresh water, and can be called the World’s Water Tower. “Let the Glacier Cool” calls on the world to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow down climate warming. Let the “World Water Tower” and “Asian Water Tower” continue to fulfill the mission given by nature and protect the important life element of human beings and organisms – Water.

Will Legend has joined hands with the Tianshan Glaciological Station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences to carry out a 1-2 day “Climate Action – Protecting Glaciers, Glacial Water Resources and Cryosphere”. The Xinjiang Tianshan Glacier National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station has prepared a rich “Action for Cryospheric Sciences” for the Earth Guardians (teachers, students, and representatives of corporate and organization) to promote the United Nations initiatives of 2025 International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, World Day for Glaciers 21 March, World Water Day 22 March, Decade of Action for Cryospheric Science.

We will take a four-wheel drive vehicle into the Tianshan Glacier No. 1 Reserve and embark on the Glacier No. 1 – the source of Xinjiang Urumqi River to see the power of the “White Giant”. Against the backdrop of global warming, glaciers around the world are melting and retreating as a whole. Through the results of the glacier melting research on Dagu Glacier No. 17 and Tianshan Glacier No. 1, participants will learn about the relationship between greenhouse gases and the climate crisis and implement Sustainable Development Goal 13 on climate action.

Tangbula is a general name for the grassland landscape of the Kashi River Canyon in Nileke County. The Xinjiang Black Bee Nature Reserve is located in Tangbula in the hinterland of the Tianshan Mountains, with an average altitude of about 1,800 meters. It is a pure land that has been spotless for thousands of years. Every year in June, July and August, more than 100 species of wild plants bloom in the Tianshan Mountains, such as thyme, Turkic motherwort, and Xinjiang Codonopsis.

Today, Nileke County has built a national black bee reserve and conservation farm, becoming a benchmark for the development of the national bee industry. At present, Nileke County has 504 bee farmers, 60,000 bee colonies, an annual honey production of more than 1,200 tons, and a bee industry output value of more than 120 million yuan, which has become a pillar industry for rural revitalization.

The “White Giant” guards the glaciers, and the meltwater from the glacier passes through the continuous Tianshan Mountains and rushes to the Yili River Valley, giving birth to the ecologically livable Yili in Xinjiang. Building an “Ocean” on this oasis in the hinterland of the Tianshan Mountains fully demonstrates the integration of Glacier, Land and Ocean. Green fish farming promotes sustainable development: “Use natural resources moderately for economic development, and then give back to nature and society with economic achievements”.

In 2014, the first batch of high-quality triploid rainbow trout eyed eggs were transported from North America, Denmark and other places to the salmon base in Kalasu Township, Nileke County, Yili, Xinjiang. The waters in the world where this fish can be cultivated are rare, and the glacier snowmelt water from the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang is known as “holy water”. In cold water at about 8°C, the eggs are carefully cared for 60 days and hatched into fry. After another 4-6 months, the young fish finally enter the breeding cages.

The salmon base is located in the Yili River Valley in Xinjiang – Nileke, with an average annual water temperature of about 12°C, an average water depth of about 150 meters, and a water surface area of about 186,000 acres. The fish fry hatchery produces 40 million fish per year. The Yili River Valley is rich in cold water resources due to the advantage of being mainly supplied by the meltwater of the Tianshan glacier. We will visit green companies and learn how to make full use of nature’s resources – using glacial water to breed salmon, accelerate rural assistance and rural revitalization. Participants will visit the salmon production line and learn about the positive development that sustainable fisheries bring to local people, communities, economy, and environment.

“Symphony Hong Kong, Beautiful Xinjiang, Integration of Two Places”. “Let the Glacier Cool, Urban Wildlife Corridor, and Let the Ocean Breathe” Conservation and Education programmes build a more complete environmental conservation contributions, and create experiential learning activities that include science, humanities and culture knowledge. Visit Xinjiang Meteorological Media Science Popular Science Center, Xinjiang Meteorological Ground Satellite Station, Tianshan Artificial Rainfall Operation Base, Turpan Meteorological Service, Xinjiang Geology and Mineral Museum to build a scientific-cultural experiential education and popular science platforms, and explore the wonderful window of Earth science and Xinjiang’s unique natural resources; Visit the Fifth Primary School in Gaochang District, Turpan City, Xinjiang to promote in-depth cultural exchanges between the two places and achieve mutual understanding and ethnic integration between the people of Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

June 12, 2024, President Xi Jinping delivered a video speech to the opening ceremony of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. President Xi pointed out that China will help implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. May 20, 2025 – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a congratulatory letter to the 2025 SCO (the Shanghai Cooperation Organization) Forum on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development, held in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. Xi pointed out that poverty eradication, a global issue, is a common goal of all countries in the world. Through arduous efforts, China has successfully won the battle against poverty, achieved the poverty reduction target of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ten years ahead of schedule, blazed a poverty reduction path with Chinese characteristics, and written a new chapter in the history of mankind’s fight against poverty.

Will Legend advocates the use of conservation, education and social-philanthropic activities to promote the sharing of economic achievements, inclusive society, and harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, and to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Climate Goals (climate targets), as a way to learn from President Xi’s spirit of promoting the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“Green-blueprint – Glacier, Land, Ocean” represents the “Let the Glacier Cool, Urban Wildlife Corridor, and Let the Ocean Breathe” Conservation and Education programmes, which is closely related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Due to the fact that glaciers, land, and oceans have always been less well-known by the outside world, they are considered to be just a geographical division and name, so that the public ignores their absolute importance to the survival of humans and organisms. In fact, glaciers, land, and oceans respectively protect the most important elements of human life – Water, Food, and Air.

In order to let the public better understand the sustainable development goals promoted by Will Legend and how Will Legend “decodes” the “encrypted messages” of businesses, science, non-governmental organizations or education, and then connects them to the public(humans), society and economy to protect the environment (nature). Today, Will Legend uses the “Let the Glacier Cool” Conservation and Education Programme as an example, and through the “Let the Glacier Cool – Third Pole Glacier Journey™” to connect to “Green-blueprint” platform to jointly embark on a path of integration of “Humans, Society, Economy and Nature”.

1. (Humans) – Safeguarding the bridge of friendship between the two places and promoting ethnic integration. Will Legend promotes “Sustainable Development and Path of Coexistence” initiative. Through the “Green-blueprint – Glacier, Land, Ocean and Sustainability”, teachers, students, corporate and organizational representatives of Hong Kong visit different ethnic groups including Tibetans, Qiangs, Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Huis, Mongolians, Sibe and other ethnic minorities, visit local communities and schools to introduce culture and geography to each other, appreciate ethnic dances, enhance mutual understanding, and plant the seeds of ethnic unity and cultural integration; Embarks on the source of Urumqi River, Tianshan Glacier No. 1, to learn about the source of precious fresh water and feel the motherland’s love for the people of Hong Kong, practices “When you drink water, think of its source. Same roots, same heart”.

2. (Society) – Promote green development – “Use natural resources moderately for economic development, and then give back to nature and society with economic achievements”. We purchase honey from beekeepers in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and mountains, and promote the integration of bee conservation into the cultural and tourism industries. Then, through the strong support of enterprises, organizations and the public for the “Green-blueprint Community Supporting” Programme, honey (Third Pole Glacier Honey™) – the gifts of nature are delivered to different groups in Hong Kong society, including the elderly, children, students, employees, low-income families and those who have difficulty in obtaining social support, to create an inclusive society.

3. (Economy) – SDG&STEAM™ Experiential Education Trip, SDG-in-China™ Research Trip (business tour) visit the Third Pole of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (Glacier No. 1 in Tianshan, Xinjiang and Dagu Glacier, Sichuan) to promote the green economy. Every consumption in the local area can boost economic growth and create jobs. Visiting green companies and learn how to make full use of nature’s resources – using glacial water to breed salmon, accelerate rural assistance and rural revitalization. Through joint actions with Will Legend’s sustainable development, corporate social responsibility, etc., local unique green enterprises and products can get full exposure and attention. Then, connect to Hong Kong, an international metropolis, and then “go global” to the international market. Will Legend also shares the stories of regional green enterprises and people’s struggles through “Sharing Economic Achievements– Xiaokang Story”. Let the public better understand the importance of a decent job, income and building a moderately prosperous society (Xiaokang society) to people in developing regions, even those in mountainous areas or rural areas can get decent jobs and economic growth.

4. (Nature) – “Let Glacier Cool” initiative connects to “Dagu Glacier International High-end Academic Forum”. Will Legend joins hands with national and international scientists to take action to respond to global challenges, including the extinction of glaciers and climate change. Weili SDG-in-China™ promotes the United Nations’ 2025 International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, World Day for Glaciers, World Water Day, Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences etc., initiatives to protect glaciers, glacier water resources and the cryosphere. Will Legend goes to schools/campuses to create experiential learning activities that include science, humanities and culture knowledge, and is committed to promoting the “Green-blueprint” Green School Talk SDG4™, ESD&STEAM Self-study Channel™ and SDG&STEAM™, and advocating the protection of nature. Encouraging teachers, students and the public to work together to protect glaciers, land and oceans.

Safeguard the last piece of pure land on the Earth, Let the Glacier Cool, Let the Ocean Breathe, run through the pulse to Urban Wildlife Corridor, draw a Green-blueprint – glacier, land and ocean integration, promote green development, nurture biodiversity, promote the sustainability of humans and nature.

– The Sustainable Conservation Goals of Will Legend