Nairobi,2 December 2017 - The UN Global Science-Policy-Business Forum on theEnvironment has been opened in the lead-up to and during the third session ofthe Third UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-3), under the banner “Science for GreenSolutions”, in order to identify and promote opportunities for green investmentthat are driven by advances in science and technology, empowering policies andinnovative financing.

TheUN Global Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment was held at 2-3December, organized by UN Environment and partners, is a framework designed tostrengthen this interface and accelerate positive change towards a circulareconomy and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Driven bythis goal, the forum will strengthen the interface between science, policy,business and society by tearing down traditional sectoral barriers and buildingconsensus around key issues.

As invited, Prof. Li Fengting, Executive Deputy Dean of UN Environment - Tongji IESD, addressed on the opening ceremony:" Universities and research institutes are the drivers for science innovation and social change by adopting more non-traditional roles in technology transfer, economic development, creating policy-research-industry dialogue and better suited to satisfy the needs for sustainable development. These strengths represent untapped opportunities to collaborate with other actors across institutional boundaries, leveraging sector strengths." Prof. Li has also been invited to other sessions including citizen science as panelist.

Tongjiknowledge economy circle, which means “Industrial Base characteristics ofR&D, design and service of Tongji University Rim”, is composed of environmentaltechnology industry, innovative and designing industry, internationalengineering consulting industry, and new energy, new materials andenvironmental-friendly technology industry. Tongji has successfully bridged thegap between academia and business, and has been reported as an example of howuniversities are helping society to reach a low- or zero-carbon future,reported in 《Nature》 dated in 2009, as the onlyuniversity from Asia.