On September 4-7, 2011, GUPES (Global University Partnership on Environment and Sustainability) High Level Planning, Consultative, Sharing and Learning Meeting for University Leaders was held in Santiago, Chili. Prof. Wu Jiang, Vice President of Tongji University and Dean of UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, attended the meeting and delivered an opening address.

The meeting was organized by UNEP (the United Nations Environment Programme) and sponsored by University of Andres Bello, Chili. More than 50 representatives from universities in Asia, Africa, Oceania, Europe, North America and South America, UNEP and UNESCO offices in Chili and Latin Caribbean and Ministry of Environment of Chili participated the three-day meeting.

Focused on “sustainable campus”, “curriculum on environment and sustainability”, “green economy” and “Rio +20 Summit”, the meeting was facilitated as a brainstorming platform for participants to share experience, learn from each other, and plan GUPES activities for both pre- and post- Rio +20 Summit, which will be occurred on June 4-6, 2012.

 

Most of the participants were impressed by Prof. Wu’s introduction of Tongji’s successful practices on construction of green campus and its broad and deep collaborative relationship with UNEP. They reached the consensus that Tongji should play a more important leading role in GUPES. It was also strongly suggested that the next GUPES meeting be held at Tongji.