June 5 2022, on the occasion of World Environment Day, the 11th International Student Conference on Environment and Sustainability (ISCES), co-organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Tongji University, was held online under the theme 'Only One Earth', with the support from Xinhua News Agency, Beijing Environment Foundation for Young Talents, and Agricultural Bank of China.  

   Mr. Ruihe TU, Head of UNEP China Office; Ms. Wei JIANG, Chief of Shanghai Bureau, Xinhua News; Prof. Jie CHEN, President of Tongji University; Mr. Guoxing ZHANG, Vice President of Shanghai Branch, Agricultural Bank of China; Prof. Peiming LYU, Executive Vice President of Tongji University; as well as representatives of students participating in 2022 ISCES Global Environmental Solution Challenge, attended online. The conference was moderated by Prof. Jiang WU, former Executive Vice President of Tongji University, Dean of UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development (IESD).   

   In the opening remarks, Mr. Ruihe Tu indicated that World Environment Day is the UN's flagship day for promoting worldwide awareness and action for the environment, and the largest global platform for environmental public outreach. This year marks the 50th anniversary of UNEP and the 20 years’ anniversary of the cooperation between UNEP with Tongji University. UNEP always values the power of youth in the transition to sustainable development and is pleased to see that ISCES has provided an important platform for students all over the world to work together, exchanging ideas and creating new solutions.

  Working with partners, Xinhua News Agency is willing to provide more support to the global audience, including young people, as indicated by Ms. Wei Jiang, and contribute to the delivery of the 2030 Agenda.

   Mr. Guoxing ZHANG expressed that, focusing on sustainable finance, Agricultural Bank of China will be vigorously dedicated to the transition to green economy and sustainable development.

 ISCES, co-organised by Tongji University and UNEP, has been successfully held for 11 years, with more than 3000 students from more than 50 countries participating, introduced by Prof. Jie CHEN in his remarks. “2022 marks the 115th anniversary of Tongji University and the 20th anniversary of IESD, and today we gathered online to celebrate the World Environment Day and to speak out for our only mother earth. Tongji University will continue to implement 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and provide an international platform for students worldwide to cooperation and exchange ideas.”

   Prof. Arun Agrawal, member of US National Academy of Sciences; Dr. Pierre Boileau, Head of Global Assessment Unit, UNEP; Mr. Weiguo LU, Vice President of Sustainability and Public Affairs APAC, Covestro; and Mr. Changbo LI, Specialist on Green Finance from Agricultural Bank of China, delivered keynote presentations from the perspectives of sustainability governance, human and planetary health, circular economy and green finance.

   As the highlight of the 2022 ISCES, the second Global Environmental Solution Challenge attracted 160 teams from 171 universities in 43 countries around the world to compete, with innovative solutions on the themes of 'Human Health', 'Circular Economy', 'Climate Change' and 'Smart Environment'. Finally, teams from University College London, Zayed University, Tsinghua University, University of Belgrade, Egerton University and other universities won the prizes and the most popular team. Prof. Fengting Li, Fellow of African Academy of Sciences and professor of Tongji University, presented the awards to the winning teams. The awarding ceremony of the 2022 Green Seedling Programme was also held during the conference.

At the closing ceremony, Peiming Lyu, Executive Vice President of Tongji University, welcomed young talents across the world to join and pursue excellence in education and research with Tongji, and to carry forward the grand cause of sustainable development together. Just as the Tongji University emblem shows, working hand in hand to tide over all kinds of difficulties and reach our set goals for sustainable development.  

   Since 2011, the International Student Conference on Environment and Sustainability (ISCES) has become a global event focusing on future leaders and one of the sustainable development youth summits with the most participating countries on the World Environment Day.