World Alliance of Universitieson Carbon Neutrality Launched

PHOTO: VCG

Initiated by China's Southeast University (SEU) and the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, the World Alliance of Universities on Carbon Neutrality was launched on October 27 in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province.

This is the first global alliance of universities on talent cultivation and scientific research cooperation, in terms of carbon neutrality technologies.

Members of the alliance include Chinese universities like Dalian University of Technology and global universities such as South Ural State University of Russia.

The initiative to establish such an alliance aims to deepen cooperation between universities globally on joint scientific research and high-end talent cultivation in the field of carbon neutrality, and actively strengthen international cooperation concerning response to climate change, said Zhang Guangjun, president of SEU and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. See page 4

According to Zhang, the alliance also aims to accelerate the talent nurturing system and sci-tech innovation system of universities, by making full use of solid basic research and interdisciplinary fusion in universities.

The alliance's secretariat is set up in SEU. Through the SEU-Yangtze River Delta Carbon Neutrality Development Institute, SEU will spare no effort to offer great service and promote the high-quality development of the alliance, said Zhang.

Xiao Rui, dean of the School of Energy and Environment at SEU, said that the alliance plans to hold diverse activities such as international academic conferences on carbon neutrality, joint cultivation of high-end talent and an exhibition on the transformation of sci-tech achievements.

As the other initiator of the alliance, the University of Birmingham also showed its commitment. David Eastwood, president of the University of Birmingham, said that, together with other members, the university will provide sustainable energy solutions to achieve the development goals of the alliance through scientific research cooperation and innovation, and jointly cope with the challenge of global climate change.

Ma Xin, vice governor of Jiangsu Province, addressed the meeting and expressed his hope that the alliance could develop into a crucial platform for global scientific research cooperation, talent nurturing and policy making consultation in the field of carbon neutrality.