The Fourth IESD Supervisory Board Meeting was held in Beijing on November 9, 2006. It is important for two reasons: IESD is approaching five years of existence, and Dr. Achim Steiner, the new Executive Director of UNEP, was present at the meeting as a new Board member.

IESD reported to the Board an overview of activities from its establishment in May 2002, including, among others, the Asia-Pacific Leadership Programme on Sustainable Development, the preparation and launching of the International Master’s Program, the short-term outreach programs, the cooperative activities with UN agencies, and the various developments on research. An update of the IESD Business Plan was presented and deliberated on. With great interest, Dr. Steiner listened to the introduction by Prof. Gang Wan, President of Tongji University, regarding the various research activities of IESD and Tongji including such areas as clean automobile development, eco-city planning and development, and eco-housing projects. The Board accepted the reports on IESD activities, progress in the implementation of the business plan, and on RUC activities.  The Board also endorsed the new, updated version of the business plan covering the period 2007-2011.

It was agreed that the next Board Meeting would be held in May 2007 in Shanghai, which coincides with the centennial celebration of Tongji University. Prof. Wan informed the Board that among other special events, there will be an International Forum on Innovation for Sustainable Development, and he invited members to join. Dr. Steiner expressed interest in participating and looked forward to visit Tongji University and IESD.