The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and Shanghai-based Tongji University will jointly run a college focusing on environment and sustainable development.
The new college will expand Tongji University's existing college of environmental sciences and engineering, according to an agreement signed Thursday at a special function at the university attended by more than 300 people, including Klaus Topfer, UNEP executive director, Xie Zhenhua, director of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), and Wu Qidi, president of Tongji University.
The existing environmental sciences and engineering college specializes in environmental engineering, urban civil works (water supply and discharge engineering) and environmental sciences. It offers courses to students working for bachelor's and master's degrees and doctorates and serves as a roving center for post-doctoral studies. It also runs five other research centers.
While addressing the signing ceremony, Xie Zhenhua said the general public has more become increasingly aware of environmental protection.
"The consensus of the international community, great attention given to environmental protection, and the wide participation of general public in this regard, will play a positive role in promoting expertise, scientific research, international cooperation and exchange in environmental sciences," the Chinese official said.
Moreover, the new college will be involved in the UNEP regional or global environmental protection projects, provide advanced technology or research, and help publish relevant books. And it will strive to turn itself into a major base for expertise in global environmental protection, scientific research, international cooperation, and a global center for environmental information.
(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2002)
