On the opening ceremony, UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner offered remarks, mentioning that since UNEA-1, the environment has shifted from the margins of attention to the center of global decision making. It now runs through the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. UNEA-2, which will be held from 23 to 27 May 2016, will reflect the latest global, regional and national developments related to the environment. It will also provide the first global platform for reviewing progress on the SDGs, particularly their environmental dimensions. To this end, UNEA-2 will contribute to the work of the High-level Political Forum (HLPF), a UN platform that provides political leadership for the SDGs, reviews their implementation, and promotes the integration of the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.

During the assembly, the delegation of our university attended multilateral conferences, shared understanding and expectation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, deeply communicated with different representatives from government, NGOs and student group, and strongly promoted the contribution and influence of UNEP-Tongji IESD on sustainable development. UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner and the Chinese delegation from ministry of environment protection dearly greeted Tongji students and encouraged them to broaden their international vision, keep close to the newest policy and technology development in the field of dudtainable development, deepen the understanding of global environmental problem with their professional expertise to become a future leader guiding the sustainable development of society, environment and economy.