HY William Chan: on the city of the future

Written By Not Too Young To Team

HY William Chan is a Sydney architect, urban planner and recent fellow in sustainable cities with the UN, advocating for youth and climate justice. Will is passionate about empowering people to shape the city of the future. For over a decade, he has championed social inclusion and climate resilience in our urban communities, collaborating with homeless people, refugees and asylum seekers, youth and children.

Tell us a little bit about who you are…

What’s good Sydney! My name’s HY William Chan. I’m an architect, volunteer surf lifesaver and first-generation migrant. And I’m running to be your next independent Team Clover councillor for the City of Sydney.

When I was 19 years old, I ended up on the national council of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition. It was awesome because it gave me hope for our future to lead a generation-wide movement tackling climate change.

I coordinated our inaugural climate change summit, Powershift, and led Sydney’s first referendum on climate action.

But it wasn’t until 2015, as UNICEF’s Young Ambassador and consulting with over 2,000 young Aussies, that I realised that our hope for our future can only become a reality if we actually have young people in government.

For the past 10 years, I’ve been collaborating with Sydney youth, leading action on climate change and championing our generation across our diverse community. 

As a young person and a person of colour, I know the challenges our generation face seem really massive. I know it’s hard to be excited about the future right now, but I also know young people across our City are rising up to confront the challenges with creativity, resilience and compassion.

I’m a proud Sydneysider dedicated to shaping a future Sydney that is creative, fair and green by including young people in that process.

Are you running as an independent or a party?

I’m running for the City of Sydney as a progressive Independent, together with our experienced local leaders of Team Clover. Our progressive, independent and community-led team is championed by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and Deputy Lord Mayor Jess Scully.

 

What inspired you to run for election this year?

Did you know over 57% of the City of Sydney community are under the age of 35, with the largest age group being 25-29 year olds?

Young people overwhelmingly make up the City of Sydney. That’s why I’m inspired to run for election: We deserve to have our voice, passions and values represented through local decision-making and policy-making, so that we can actively shape the future of Sydney that we will inherit.

I’ve also been inspired by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore to run for election this year. For 17 years, Clover and her experienced team has delivered progressive, stable and corruption-free governance for our City. That’s super impressive!

She was young mum and a school teacher, and first ran for local council to fight for better parks and playgrounds for children in Redfern. I love the fact that she ran on a platform for young people and that she won against all odds as a female Independent.

She’s the real OG when it comes to progressive policies. Clover’s track record of achievement on climate policy gives me hope for our future.

Under Clover’s leadership, we became the first government in Australia to become carbon neutral. All of the City’s operations are also powered by 100% renewable electricity and we’re on track to meet our 2030 target of 70% emissions reduction six years early, in 2024. We’re also the only capital city council to have consistently increased tree canopy cover.

Our generation is daring to fight for a fair and sustainable future. We’re daring to lead for our generation and the next. Young Sydneysiders deserve a seat at the City of Sydney table. Let’s dare to fight for a progressive, independent and community-led future together.

 

What are the key causes and impact areas you are championing?

As an architect and citymaker, I’m dedicated to designing for dignity in our City and how you can all be part of the process.

Our City has really suffered from the state government’s lockout laws and now the COVID-lockdowns. I am keen to revitalise our nightlife and cultural sectors so that we can support our local economies and transform Sydney into a global 24-hour city. I can’t wait to work with young people on the future of Kings Cross and Oxford Street.

I’m passionate about tackling homelessness and housing affordability in our City. I believe housing is a right. Through urban planning controls, our City can continue to deliver supportive housing models and community housing innovation. I will continue to champion an increase in social and affordable housing in the city, particularly through a good outcome at Waterloo and Blackwattle Bay.

And I’m excited to fight for our public spaces for a #PublicSydney. By increasing our tree canopy and street planting, new green spaces and skate parks, completing our safe and separated cycle network. And to deliver on our team’s Alfresco Sydney vision to activate our laneways, carparks and squares with vibrant commerce, arts and culture.

What is your message to other young people who may have thought about running too?

For far too long, our generation has faced the brunt of accelerating crises. From the climate crisis, global COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession.

If I’ve learnt anything from the challenges of the past year, it’s that young people are resilient. We are willing to lean in to courage. We are willing to dare to lead for our generation for a sustainable future.

Now, more than ever, we need community-minded citizen politicians. And we especially need more young people in local politics. We need you!

You are experienced enough to do this.
You are knowledgeable enough to do this.
You are prepared enough to do this.
You are mature enough to do this.
You are brave enough to do this.
(paraphrased from AOC)

HY William Chan is an independent candidate for the Clover Moore Independent Team ­in the City of Sydney. You can follow his campaign using the links below.

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