As a regular event held annually on World Environment Day, the International Student Conference on Environment and Sustainability (ISCES) returned as scheduled. On June 7, the main forum of the 2025 ISCES took place at Tongji University’s Siping Campus. Jointly organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Tongji University, the conference received strong support from the Agricultural Bank of China Shanghai Branch, the Beijing Green Future Environmental Foundation, Covestro, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of UNEP, delivered a video address emphasizing that effective plastic management helps reduce pollution, conserve resources, lower carbon emissions, protect ecosystems, and create green jobs. “What we need is not just policies and commercial participation,” she noted, “but also robust scientific support.” She highlighted that the conference is not only a gathering, but also a space for innovation, a platform for cross-cultural collaboration, and an opportunity for young people worldwide to reimagine the future.

 Zhang Linxiu, Director of the International Ecosystem Management Partnership under UNEP, stated that plastic pollution is one of the core issues of the “triple planetary crisis.” She called for reduced plastic use and encouraged young people around the world to propose creative, implementable solutions. In her keynote speech titled “Applying the Nexus Approach to Address the Triple Planetary Crisis,” she advocated for integrated policymaking from the perspective of energy, water, and ecosystems, offering a systematic path forward for tackling plastic pollution.

 Han Guoqiang, Party Secretary and President of the Agricultural Bank of China Shanghai Branch, remarked that the bank is committed to deepening collaboration with academia and industry, enhancing its green financial services with greater strength, warmth, and dedication. He emphasized the bank’s resolve to contribute to green and low-carbon development and the building of a modern, harmonious relationship between humanity and nature.

 Lv Peiming, Executive Vice President of Tongji University, pointed out that environmental issues are a common global challenge that must be addressed through international cooperation. Over the past 14 years, the ISCES has attracted tens of thousands of young participants from more than 100 countries. Since its establishment four years ago, the Global Environment Solutions Challenge (GESC) has encouraged youth to “grow from participants in global environmental governance into drivers of change.” Tongji University, he said, will continue to cultivate talent and conduct research in sustainability, contributing more “Tongji wisdom” to global sustainable development.

The conference was chaired by Professor Wang Ying, Deputy Dean of the College of Environmental Science and Engineering at Tongji University and Deputy Dean of the UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development.

As a key segment of the conference, the 2025 GESC focused on “Innovative Solutions for Plastic Pollution,” attracting student teams from 121 universities across 71 countries and regions. The 55 teams that advanced to the semi-finals competed fiercely at Tongji University. Their projects spanned a range of interdisciplinary areas, including AI-enabled recycling, the development of biodegradable materials, and community-based plastic management innovations—demonstrating the creativity and sense of responsibility of today’s youth on environmental issues.

 This year’s judging panel featured an esteemed lineup of experts from UN agencies, international organizations, research institutions, and globally renowned companies. Certificates of appreciation were presented to all judges by conference leaders, in recognition of their contributions.

 The conference also hosted the 2025 GESC Awards Ceremony. Student teams from institutions such as Darmstadt University of Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Arizona State University, ETH Zurich, Tsinghua University, University of Jeddah, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology were recognized for their outstanding work. Tongji University's team, Second Life Squad, which focused on recycling and reuse of waste materials, was awarded the “Most Popular Project.”

 In his closing remarks, Professor Wu Jiang, Dean of the UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development and Director of the Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Sustainable Development, noted that youth are the hope and main force for environmental sustainability. “Carrying a shared mission, young people are engaging in interdisciplinary, intercultural, and cross-border collaboration, injecting new energy into global environmental governance and sustainable development,” he said, “and working together to build a greener, more inclusive, and resilient future.”