On the 50th World Environment Day on 5 June 2023, the 12th International Student Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development (ISCES) was successfully held. This conference has the main venue of Siping Road Campus of Tongji University and the online branch venue. Experts, scholars, industry representatives, partners, heads of the 

functional department of Tongji University and young students from more than 20 countries and regions gathered to carry out a series of activities on the topic of  BeatPlasticPollution .

The conference is co-hosted by the United Nations Environment Program and Tongji University, and is sponsored by the Beijing Environment Foundation for Young Talents, the Agricultural Bank of China, Covestro and other organizations.

Dr. Susan Gardner, Director of Ecosystems Division, UNEP, Ms. Jiang Wei, Chief of Xinhua News Agency Shanghai Bureau. Mr. Zhang Guoxing, Vice President of the Agricultural Bank of China Shanghai Branch, and Prof. Zheng Qinghua, President of Tongji University attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches respectively. Lyu Peiming, Executive Vice President of Tongji University, delivered the closing speech.

Zheng Qinghua, President of Tongji University, said that Tongji University has always been committed to integrating sustainable development into education and research. Prof. Zheng expressed the hope that the conference would plant a seed of environmental concern for us, and that the young people of the future would promote it to flourish, and bring benefits to the people of the world.

According to Susan Gardner, plastic pollution has always been a global problem, involving economic, environmental and human health aspects. It is a complex and multi-dimensional challenge. This conference will play an important role in raising people's awareness of plastic pollution and promoting the implementation of plastic pollution control measures.

Jiang said it is the common responsibility of the international community to build a green and livable earth and open up a path of sustainable development. Xinhua News Agency is willing to provide more information and media support for sustainable development of human society to the global audience.

Zhang Guoxing said green finance is an important driving force for green development. Agricultural Bank of China is willing to make more contributions to realizing the strategic goal of double carbon and building a beautiful world with harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

Mr. Mahesh Pradhan, Coordinator of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia, United Nations Environment Programme, Mr. Mahesh Pradhan, Coordinator of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia, United Nations Environment Programme, Mr. Richard Brubaker, Committee Chair, AMCHAM Sustainability and CSR Committee delivered keynote presentations on Marine plastic pollution and recycling economy, Addressing Plastic Pollution and Sustainable Bioeconomy and The business case for plastic circularity. Prof. Li Fengting, Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences and Professor of the College of Environmental Science and Engineering of Tongji University, presided over the presentation.

Experts said that plastic pollution is a global problem, and various international treaties have been concluded to deal with different plastic pollution problems. To reduce plastic pollution, all parties should actively practice their main responsibilities, gradually improve the multi-party cooperation mechanism of the production, use, recycling and disposal of plastics, and gather social consensus and work together to jointly promote plastic pollution control.

As an important part of the 12th International Student Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development, the 2023 Global Environmental Challenge (GESC) will solicit innovative solutions around four topics: human health, circular economy, climate change and Zero-waste city. Students from all over the world are invited to participate in the competition. The conference attracted 85 teams from 122 universities including more than 20 countries and regions, and more than 5,000 observers took part in the voting. On the awarding ceremony, students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Tsinghua University, Tongji University, Fuzhou University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Novi Sad, King Abdulaziz University and University of Jeddah won the prize.

According to Professor Li Fengting, this year's works are interdisciplinary and multi-layered, reflecting the global youth's awareness of the crisis of plastic pollution and the active action to promote plastic waste disposal.

At the closing ceremony, Lyu Peiming said that Tongji University has made remarkable achievements in the field of sustainable development, and he expects young talents from across the world to join Tongji University and carry forward the grand cause of sustainable development together, just as the Tongji University logo shows, if we work hand in hand, we can tide over all kinds of difficulties and reach our set goals.

The conference ended with a performance by international students. The International Student Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development has been successfully held for 12 sessions，nearly 4,000 students from more than 50 countries gathering at Tongji University, which makes the event one of the most popular youth events on for the World Environment Day. It provides a platform for young students from all over the world to exchange views and discuss major environmental issues, as well as cross-disciplinary, cross-field and cross-border learning opportunities for students who are interested in environmental protection. The International Student Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development will remain true to its cause, providing a stage for the world's youth and a future for the global environment.