On June 5, 2024, the 53rd World Environment Day and the 10th China Environment Day, a unique forum on Sustainable Campus and Future was held at the International Campus, Zhejiang University. Experts, scholars, student clubs, and professional representatives gathered to discuss the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) and China's "dual carbon" climate action targets. The forum aimed to implement Zhejiang University's "A Global ZJU for Social Good" (Z4G Plan), sharing experiences and positive measures in education, research, campus development and management, and social services. The goal was to pool "global strength" for a green and sustainable future and contribute "ZJU wisdom" to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
QU Lijuan, Vice Dean of the International Campus, and DU Risheng, Managing Director of North Asia at the U.S. Green Building Council (LEED), delivered speeches at the forum. Vice Deans Wu Jian and Chen Liang also attended, and Jia Jia Lim, Assistant Professor at Zhejiang University International Business School (ZIBS), hosted the event.
QU Lijuan highlighted the efforts and contributions of the International Campus faculty, staff, and students towards sustainable development goals. She emphasized that the report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China clearly states that Chinese modernization is one of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Respecting, adapting to, and protecting nature are intrinsic requirements for building a modern socialist country. Accelerating the development of a community of life between humans and nature is both a practical solution and a value principle for addressing human-nature issues, as well as a guiding principle and overall goal for promoting China's ecological civilization and global sustainable development. She stressed that universities are at the forefront of technological innovation and should focus on transforming innovation into forces that promote social equity, address climate change, and enhance cultural diversity. Universities are also bases for cultivating outstanding talents with a global sense of responsibility, encouraging students to think about and solve global challenges. In addition, universities serve as bridges for international cooperation and exchange, sharing knowledge and experiences on a mutually beneficial basis to cultivate globally competitive talents and conduct collaborative research. She noted that this forum represents a new exploration and momentum in the journey of sustainable campus initiative at the International Campus, in partnership with society and the world. In the future, she hopes to encourage more faculty, staff, and students to practice sustainable development concepts through concrete actions, collectively painting a new picture of a sustainable university for future development.
In the guest speech, DU Risheng stated that LEED, as a globally widely used green building and city evaluation system, is committed to creating sustainable human habitats, allowing everyone in this generation to experience green buildings. He expressed his honor and pleasure in witnessing the International Campus of Zhejiang University actively embracing and practicing sustainable concepts. He also hoped that these practices would benefit everyone on campus through the active participation of faculty, staff, and students. He looked forward to seeing more green campuses emerge in China as part of the "dual carbon" climate action targets.
CHEN Liang presented a thematic report on the green campus management of the International Campus, covering the green campus overview, practices, reflections, and prospects. He introduced sustainable campus development and operation, highlighting the goals of "establishing benchmarks, leading by example, guiding the public, fulfilling social responsibility, creating an environment for education, and enhancing management and development." Using examples such as "sponge campus," "renewable energy," "low-carbon travel campus," "green associations," and "green research," he illustrated the innovative practices and experiences of International Campus in green campus initiative.
WANG Jing, Vice President of North Asia at the U.S. Green Building Council, delivered a report titled "Green Buildings—Voting for the Future with Choices." QU Lijuan, representing the Green University Working Committee of the China Association of Building Energy Efficiency, presented a report on "China's Practice of Green University Progress towards the '3060 Dual Carbon Goals'." WU Jiayan, Deputy Director and Senior Engineer of the Master Studio at Zhejiang University Architectural Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd., discussed "Exploration of Carbon Emission Control and Zero-Carbon Building Development." Professor XIAO Yan, Qiushi Chair Professor at Zhejiang University and Director of the Energy, Environment, and Sustainable Systems Sciences of Zhejiang University-University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Institute (ZJUI), presented a report on "Bamboo Industry Development, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and Youth Action." Assistant Professor WEI Binru from ZIBS delivered a thematic report on "New Energy Industry and Economic Development." SHE Mingrui, a n undergraduate student of class of 2026 at Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE) and Chair of the Eco Club presented a report on "Sustainable Development and Biodiversity—Eco Club in Action."
In the roundtable forum on "Sustainable Development Innovation Actions and Youth Leadership Cultivation," LIU Jian, Assistant Professor at ZJE, DIAO Ruisheng, Associate Professor at ZJUI, WEN Wu, Professor at ZIBS, LI Xueling, Education and Professional Support Director of North Asia at the U.S. Green Building Council, WU Jiayan, Deputy Director and Senior Engineer of the Master Studio at Zhejiang University Architectural Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd., and YAO Yijiang, an undergraduate student of Class of 2027 at ZJUI and President of the Green Pioneer Club (in preparation), delivered in-depth speeches. The roundtable was hosted by LEI Linan, Assistant Professor at ZIBS.
Before and after the forum, various activities were held, such as the Youth Leadership and Sustainable Development in the Wood Industry—World Environment Day event, a sustainable development-themed poster exhibition, and green clubs pop-up booths exhibition.
International Campus has always embraced the initiative of sustainable campus development, benchmarking internationally and striving to build a leading example of a sustainable campus. Since its establishment, it has received the Two-Star Green Building Design Label, LEED V4.1 O+M Platinum Certification, Eco Campus Platinum Certification, ISO14001:2015 Certification, and was selected as a showcase case for the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Green Library Award. The Campus is home to many enthusiastic faculty, staff, and students dedicated to sustainable campus initiative, as well as numerous faculty and scholars engaged in sustainable development research and various courses exploring sustainable development. Through themed activities, the campus aims to encourage faculty, staff, and students to focus on and participate in environmental topics, explore diverse ways of sustainable campus development, and practice environmental concepts in their daily lives.
Article: ZHANG Yi
Photography: LIU Shuaiyin, QI Shengwei
Editing: LIU Shuaiyin, LI Yinan
Editing in charge: ZHANG Yi
Transition: XIONG Weiwei
English Editing: Kevin Ariyanto, LIU Shuaiyin
Reviewer: YANG Yi