On November the 30th, the 21st conference of the parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris) was inaugurated in Paris, France. Tongji University had a chance to send some observers to the conference. The observers were selected from the School of Environmental Science and Engineering and Department of Chemistry.

President Xi Jinping delivered a speech in the opening ceremony to clarify the views and proposals of China on the global climate governance. He emphasized that all parties shall work together with sincerity and confidence, to propel the establishment of a fair and effective international mechanism, thus helping realize the global sustainable development on a higher level and foster win-win cooperation.

With about 150 heads of state attending its opening ceremony, an agreement on the international mechanism in response to the global climate change after 2020 is expected to be reached during the conference in Paris. At the conference, the observers from Tongji University listened carefully to each party’s report and communicated actively with other youth representatives. They also shared their expectation for global action to deal with a global problem like, climate change. These observers were all excellent students selected from different colleges of Tongji, including elite students in the public selective course of “Sustainable Development and Future”. They are Gao Yawei, postgraduate student of 2014 in the Department of Chemistry, Duan Lei, graduate student of 2012 majoring in Environmental Science, An Zhaohui, graduate student of 2013 majoring in Environmental Engineering and Peng Lu, graduate student of 2013 majoring in Water Supply and Drainage.
 

As scheduled, Tongji observers participated in the Global Climate Change Forum, the side event of the Conference to introduce the cycling route and ecotourism plan of Eastern Chongming Island of Shanghai, as well as share the concept and optimal practice of Tongji University in sustainable education and research with other delegates in relevant activities such as “China-EU Forum” and “Education for Environment and Sustainable Development Forum”.

This observation activity was organized by UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, aiming at broadening students’ international horizons, enhancing their professional competence and promoting interdisciplinary interaction. Students present at the Conference said that they had access to the latest development in the climate change field, especially deepened their understanding of climate change and opened up their horizons.

It is known that via the platform of UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, more than 50 students from our university have had various internships opportunities in UNEP headquarters, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP), Office of Special Advisor on Africa (OSAA) and UN-Habitat with the chances of participating in some vital international conferences including the Climate Change Conference and the UN Conference on Environment and Development.
 

Translated by May Language Studio Based upon

http://news.tongji.edu.cn/classid-10-newsid-49563-t-show.html