UNEP-Tongji Institute for Environment and Sustainable Development

To participate in regional or global environmental projects and capacity building programs organized and coordinated by UNEP;

To establish an internationalized educational institution in respect of environment and sustainable development, with the support of UNEP and thorough cooperation with international leading universities, for the purposes of technical and management personnel education regionally and globally, particularly for developing countries;

To conduct global environmental studies and technology innovations, to promote and practice beneficial experience and technology in environmental protection, and to generate scientific results consistent with global needs for environment and sustainable development;

To promote environmental academic communication, to hold international conferences, and to establish international research, education, and information communication center of environment and sustainable development.

Education

IESD seeks to integrate the multidisciplinary methodologies of natural and social sciences, viewing the environment, economy and society in a holistic fashion. IESD actively participates in UNEP organized regional and global environmental projects; focuses on the generation of new knowledge, development of leading-edge approaches, promotion of creative innovations, and novel applications of knowledge; and provides a well-rounded education to produce graduates with the knowledge and skills to understand the issues involved in environment and sustainable development, and to offer innovative and practical solutions. IESD’s aim is to become an important base of research, education, and information exchange for sustainable development.

Research thematic areas:

• Eco-city Planning
• Low-carbon Economy
• Wter Resources Policy and Water System Remediation Technology
• WaterResources Management and Water System Remediation Project
• Direction：Africa Water Resources and Water Treatment Technology
• Climate Change Policy
• Green Transport Planning
• Strategic Environmental Assessment
• Sustainable Development City Planning
• Sustainable Development Model in Rural and Arid Areas
• Environmental Law and policies
• Environment and Energy Nano-materials; Water Pollution Control and Resource Utilization Technologies; Air Pollution Control Technology

A Brainstorming Meeting of UNEP-Tongji Institute for Environment and Sustainable Development jointly organized by Tongji University and UNEP was held in Beijing, in September 2003. A decision was made at the meeting to establish a Regional University Consortium (RUC) to promote the notion of sustainable development through educational channels. At the moment, RUC is with University of News South Wales， Griffith University, and Wollongong University from Australia, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and School of Forestry and Environmental Studies of Yale University in the USA, with Tongji University taking the lead. RUC members will jointly develop education on environment and sustainable development under the platform of IESD. Located in Japan, the University of United Nations enthusiastically takes part in RUC activities. Being inclusive in nature, RUC welcomes leading universities rich in research and expertise in environment and sustainable development.

The first RUC Meeting was held on August 1st, 2004, in Anji County, known as a model ecological zone in China. The meeting agreed on organizing leadership programs annually on environment for sustainable development. It was also decided to prepare an international Master's Program in Environmental management and Sustainable Development. Since then, the RUC meeting has been held for five times, summarizing the progress of the previous year and discussing the plans on training, education and research of the coming year.