Co-hosted by UNEP-TongjiInstitute of Environment for Sustainable Development and Beijing EngineeringResearch Center of Building Energy Efficiency and Urban Ecology, the secondUrban ecosystem and Energy Conservation forum was held on June 7th ,2016 in UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development inShanghai.

The theme of theforum was “Renewable Energy Utilization and Urban Atmospheric Environment”. Wehad guest speakers from United Nations Environment Programme, Ministry ofHousing and Urban-Rural Development of the PRC, Chinese Renewable EnergySociety, Ministry of Environment of Italy.

The forumconsisted three parts: opening ceremony, reports and panel discussion. Theformer minister of ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the PR,Mr. Wang Guangtao, Prof. Yang Xianjin,and Deputy Director of Division of Environmental Policy Implementation of UNEP,Dr. Monika G MacDevette gave welcome remarks.

Mr. Wang Guangtaoexpressed that this session of the forum is regarding development andutilization of renewable energy in urban area to promote the transition ofurban development pattern.

Prof. YangXianjin stated that Tongji University has always been dedicated to thesustainable development in China through multi-disciplinary study and research,including the field of renewable energy and air pollution control. In thefuture, Tongji University will continue exploring the pathways to establish asustainable university and carry the responsibility of leading the ecologicalcivilization among universities in China.

The StateDepartment Counselor, Chairman of Chinese Renewable Energy Society, Mr. ShiDinghuan, former Environmental Minister of Italy, member of the China Councilfor International Cooperation on Environment and Development, Mr. CorradoClini, Guest Professor of Tongji University, Thousand Talents Program Professor,Editor-in-chief of Applied Energy,Jerry Yan, Deputy Chief Architect, Beijing Institute of Architecture Design(Group) Co., Ltd, Director, Green Building Research Department, Mrs. Jiao Jianpresented their reports. They focused on the theme “Renewable EnergyUtilization and Urban Atmospheric Environment”, and spoke about policy, innovation,environmental impacts, urban planning, and the roadmap of technologydevelopment.

Mrs. Monika G MacDevette,Mr. Shi Dinghuan, Mr. Corrado Clini, Mr. Jerry Yan, and Mrs. Jiao Jianparticipated in the panel discussion. They discussed the landmark resolutionsagreed upon in the UN Environment Assembly Convening in Nairobi, the comparisonof the energy and pollution policies between China and Italy, and the prospectsand application of the renewable energy with the greatest potential. Theexperts probed into development and utilization of renewable as well as theimprovement of air quality through their own professional perspective, andshared their unique opinions based on their own professional background.

The forum addresseddomestic and overseas experiences and problems of renewable energy utilizationand urban atmospheric pollution treatment. The experts were high-level, theacademic atmosphere was strong, and the communication and interaction were dynamic.During the discussion, guest participants all agreed upon that renewable energywas essential to every country’s energy safety and to environmental protection.Also, countries should design more efficient energy structure and implementtransition of energy consumption according to their specific conditions. Theprocess requires multiple professions to collaborate on the same goal offacilitating sustainable development and to be committed to innovativestrategies.

At the forum, theguests also launched Technical Manual on Guidefor Environmental Performance Evaluation of Urban Ecological Construction.The research project has been led by Beijing Engineering Research Center ofBuilding Energy Efficiency and Urban Ecology since 2014. Through developing theevaluation system of environmental performance and demonstrating the principlesof the evaluation index, the technical manual provides the technical guide andapplication tool of evaluation of ecological construction.