(1) Agreement Signing Ceremony

The UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development (IESD) was jointly established by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Tongji University (Tongji). At the ceremony, Dr. Klaus Töpfer, by the time the Under- Secretary-General of UN and the Executive Director of UNEP, and Prof. Qidi Wu, former President of Tongji University, signed a Letter of Agreement on May 9, 2002. Mr. Zhenhua XIE, the former Minister of the State Environmental Protection Agency of China, Mr. Zheng HAN, and Mayor of Shanghai attended the agreement signing ceremony. Mr. Geping QU, former Chairman of Environment and Resources Committee, Standing Committee of National People’s Congress of China, sent a letter of congratulations to the Institute. Dr. Klaus. Töpfer, Mr. Zhenhua XIE, Mr. Zheng HAN, and Prof. Qidi WU gave speeches. A press conference was held after the ceremony. The establishment of the Institute received worldwide attention.

2002 Agreement Signing Ceremony

Prof. Wu Qidi, president of Tongji University and Dr. Klaus Toepfer, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) and the Executive Director of United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) signed the Letter of Agreement to establish UNEP-Tongji Insitute of Environment for Sustainable Development (IESD)

2007 Agreement Renewal Ceremony

Prof. WAN Gang (right front), president of Tongji University signed the renewed agreement with Mr.Achim Steiner(left front), Under-Secretary-General of the UN and Executive Director of UNEP

(2) 2007 Signing Ceremony for UNEP-Tongji Agreement Renewal

On May 18, 2007, during the Centennial Ceremony of Tongji University, Mr. Achim Steiner, Under Secretary General of the United Nations, Executive Director of UNEP, and Prof. Gang WAN, President of Tongji, signed the renewed agreement of the cooperation between UNEP and Tongji. The cooperation will last until 2012. Prof. WAN Gang also issued the certificate for Honorable Professor to Mr. Achim Steiner.

The renewed agreement emphasizes the continuing cooperation between UNEP and Tongji in strengthening development, and offering of a new model of education in the fields of environmental protection, design and management, and cultivating most-needed research,and technological and managerial talents for global environmental protection, particularly for developing countries. The two sides reconfirmed the special objectives and the functions of UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development. Mr. Xiaoqing WU, Vice Minister of SEPA, Dr. Klaus Toepfer, the former Executive Director of UNEP, Mr. Surendra Shrestha, Regional Director & Representative,for the UNEP Regional Office for Asia-Pacific (ROAP), and other distinguished guests attended the ceremony.

(3) 2012 Signing Ceremony for UNEP-Tongji Agreement Renewal

On December 14, 2012, during the Ninth Board Meeting of UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, Mr. Achim Steiner, Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UNEP, and Prof. Gang PEI, President of Tongji, signed the renewed agreement of cooperation between UNEP and Tongji.

(4) 2016 Signing Ceremony for UNEP-Tongji Agreement Renewal

Nairobi, 29 February 2016 - The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Tongji University today pledged to continue a rewarding collaboration by extending and updating a 2012 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner and Professor Yang Xianjin, signed the updated MoU in a ceremony at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi. Professor Yang Xianjin was in Nairobi with a delegation of university representatives.

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner (R) and Professor Yang Xianjin (L), 

(5) 2022 Signing Ceremony for UNEP-Tongji Agreement Renewal

On April 28, 2022, the occasion of 20th anniversary of IESD, Sonja Leighton-Kone, Acting Deputy Executive Director of the UNEP, and CHEN Jie, President of Tongji University renewed the MoU.

President Chen Jie (L) and Mr. Sonia Leiden Kone (R)