On 5th June, 2020, the UNEP - Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development (IESD) held its fifth Alumni Reunion and the Celebration event for the World Environment Day with the theme of Eco-innovation towards Green Development. More than 110 alumni from all over the world joined the online event. Dr. Isabelle Louis, Deputy Director for UNEP Asia and the Pacific Office connected from Thailand, Prof. Li Fengting, Executive Deputy Dean of IESD, Prof. Wang Ying, Vice Dean of IESD, IESD office staffs and students representatives participated in the event as well.

The event commenced with welcome remarks from Dr. Louis. She introduced the World Environment Day Theme for 2020 - biodiversity and the urgent needs for human beings to take action and protect the nature. As the long term partner, she also thanked for the efforts Tongji made in dissiminating the sustainable knowledge among students. University in and closed her speech with a Chinese saying Contribute to the present, benefits to the future for a thousand years to encourage everyone to work together from now on. 

Prof. Li then gave a welcome speech to IESD alumni and advocate our graducated students to connect with each other and work together in creating a more sustainable world. 

Ms. Shen Jiaqi, the Director of the International Education Program updated our alumni the great achievements IESD made over the years and expressed the hope that IESD would continue to generate a high caliber of graduates that foster continued cooperation between Tongji University and the United Nations.

Mr. Lukasz Madrzynski (Poland, 2013 International Ph.D. Program) who started his own business in Eco-tourism gave a keynote speech by sharing his story and views on the new business models in tackling the new environemntal challenges. Mr. Li   Zhe (China, 2009 International Master Program), Mr. Xing Yi (China, 2018 Asia-Pacific Leadership Programme
 on Sustainability) and Ms. Mumbi Anne Wambui (Kenya, 2018 International Ph.D. Program)also shared their thoughts on this topic from different perspectives in investment company, academia research and media. 

The online Reunion was closed in the remarks delivered by Prof. Wang Ying, Vice Dean of IESD. The IESD alumni platform extended us a fruitful collaboration with research institutes and organizations in Nepal, Cambodia and Myanmar. We look forward to improving the urban water safety and water sanitation together through the application of Joint laboratory Project launched and funded by Shanghai municipal government.