With joint efforts of UNEP and Tongji University, and with the support of Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), the 2014 Asia-Pacific Leadership Programme on Environment for Sustainable Development (APLP) under the theme of ‘Ecosystems Management and Sustainable Development’ was successfully inaugurated on 22 September at the UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development (IESD). 24 participants from 12 countries have participated the programme this year.

At the Opening Ceremony, Prof. JIANG Bo, Vice President of Tongji University delivered the welcome remarks, appreciated the continuous support from the Asia-Pacific Regional University Consortium during the past 10 years and shared Tongji’s great efforts in building itself into a sustainability-oriented university. Mr. Mahesh Pradhan, Chief of Environmental Education and Training Unit (ETTU) of UNEP, as well as Ms. Nila Puspita, the Program Coordinator from HSF, welcomed the participants and resource persons and highlighted the significance of the APLP. Dr. WANG Xin, Vice Dean of IESD delivered a presentation on the “Eco-city Planning and Outlook in Shanghai”. Dr. Liu Jian, Director of UNEP International Ecosystem and Management Partnership (IEMP) also made a keynote speech on “International Ecosystem Management and Sustainable Development” via the skype. Prof. LI Fengting, Special Coordinator for South-South Cooperation, Vice Dean of IESD and Vice Dean of the College of Environmental Science and Engineering hosted the opening ceremony.

This year is the 11th year of the programme. So far, more than 300 emerging leaders from 42 countries and organizations have benefited from this annual leadership programme at IESD, of which more than 30 countries are from the Asia-Pacific. The leadership programme has also attracted participants from North America, Africa, Europe and who have shared experiences.

During the rest of the week, UN and government officials, senior experts and professors in the field of environment and sustainable development delivered lectures and interact with participants on human, environment, society and economy, illustrating the inter-relations among mind, body and soul in developing effective sustainability leaders in Asia and the Pacific.