COP31, Türkiye, Nov. 10, 2026 — The Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC) officially opened its pavilion in the Blue Zone of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) on Tuesday, creating a dedicated space for universities, researchers, policy makers businesses and young people to exchange ideas and explore new avenues for climate cooperation.

Representatives from universities, international organizations, the private sector and youth communities attended the opening ceremony, which marked the start of a series of discussions and activities to be hosted by GAUC member universities and partners throughout COP31.

Professor Li Zheng, Secretary-General of GAUC and Dean of the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development at Tsinghua University, moderated the opening session. Introducing the role of the pavilion and its programme during the conference, Li encouraged participants to make full use of the opportunity for face-to-face exchanges and to share experiences from both climate research and practice.

Professor Li Zheng, Secretary-General of GAUC and Dean of the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development at Tsinghua University

Professor Yang Bin, Chair of the GAUC Executive Committee and Vice Chair of the Tsinghua University Council, delivered the welcoming remarks. He highlighted the role universities can play in joint research and talent development, calling on GAUC member institutions to bring together their respective academic strengths to address shared climate challenges.

Yang also stressed the importance of creating more opportunities for young people to participate in cross-border research and practical climate initiatives.

Professor Yang Bin, Chair of the GAUC Executive Committee and Vice Chair of the Tsinghua University Council

Lord Nicholas Stern, Chair of the GAUC Academic Committee and Chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science, called for stronger collaboration among universities across climate science, economics and engineering. Such interdisciplinary cooperation, he said, could provide a stronger evidence base for low-carbon investment and more effective public policy.

Lord Nicholas Stern, Chair of the GAUC Academic Committee and Chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science

Professor Llewelyn Hughes, Director of the Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions at the Australian National University, co-chair of GAUC, placed particular emphasis on action and collaboration among younger participants. He encouraged students attending COP31 to set themselves a concrete goal during the conference — whether identifying a new partner or finding a project they could develop together.

Professor Llewelyn Hughes, Director of the Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions at the Australian National University, co-chair of GAUC.

Zhou Hongwen, Executive Director of Envision Group, delivered remarks by video, focusing on the wider implications of the energy transition. Zhou said the transition was not simply about replacing one source of energy with another, but was closely connected to the transformation of industries and future economic development. Building the energy systems of the future requires not only investment in infrastructure, but also sustained investment in a generation capable of producing new knowledge and forging new forms of cooperation. “Young people are not only the inheritors of the future, but also its creators,” he said, emphasizing that the ability to innovate, the trust required for cooperation and the confidence of the next generation are themselves important assets of the green transition.

Zhou Hongwen, Executive Director of Envision Group

Following the opening remarks, GAUC Chief Youth Officer Alice Ho and GAUC Programme Officer Anna An introduced the pavilion and the opportunities available for youth participation during COP31.

Alice Ho, GAUC Chief Youth Officer

Alice encouraged young delegates to use the pavilion as a space to present their research and practical work, engage with peers from different countries and academic backgrounds, and take ideas generated during the conference back to their universities and communities.

During COP31, the GAUC Pavilion will host thematic exchanges on issues including the energy transition, climate adaptation and youth action, providing universities and partner organizations with a platform to share research, discuss implementation challenges and identify opportunities for cooperation.

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