On May 28 to 29, 2019, twelve universities from Global Alliance of Universities on Climate's (GAUC) gathered at Tsinghua University, Beijing. The alliance's executive committee and academic committee meeting was held, the GAUC Charter was discussed and approved, and GAUC was formally established. Tsinghua University serves as the inaugural Chair of GAUC, with the London School of Economics and Political Science serves as the inaugural co-chair. The first Secretariat will be based at Tsinghua University for a term of four years.
Global Alliance of Universities on Climate's (GAUC) executive committee and academic committee meeting was held on May 28 and 29 respectively in Tsinghua University.
Tsinghua University serves as the inaugural Chair of GAUC, and the London School of Economics and Political Science serves as the inaugural co-chair.
The first Secretariat will be based at Tsinghua University for a term of four year
GAUC will focus on joint research, talent cultivation, student exchanges, green and carbon-neutral campus implementation, public engagement and other major aspects
On May 28th and 29th, a meeting of the executive committee and academic committee of the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC) was held respectively in Beijing. University leaders and academic pioneers in the field of climate change from twelve universities in six continents gathered in Tsinghua University to attend the meeting. During the meeting, the GAUC Charter was discussed and approved, and GAUC was formally established.
The member universities of the Alliance include Australian National University, the University of California Berkeley, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, the London School of Economics and Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Tokyo, Tsinghua University, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, the Indian Institute of Science, Sciences Po, and Stellenbosch University.
Tsinghua University will serve as the inaugural Chair of GAUC, and the London School of Economics and Political Science will serve as the inaugural co-chair. President Qiu Yong of Tsinghua University will serve as the founding chairperson of the alliance and director Dame Minouche Shafik of the London School of Economics and Political Science will serve as co-chairperson.
The establishment of the Secretariat of the Alliance was also approved during the meeting. The first Secretariat of the Alliance will be based at Tsinghua University for a term of four years, and Executive Vice President Li Zheng of the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Tsinghua University, will serve as the first secretary-general of GAUC.
During his meeting with delegates, President Qiu Yong of Tsinghua University noted that since the eight universities released the joint statement this January at Davos, four new members from France, India, Brazil and South Africa have joined the Alliance to work closely together on the preparation of the Alliance. “Leading universities should play a leading role in tackling the most challenging issues confronted by humankind. This initiative is very timely and meaningful for global climate governance and for coping with the challenges of climate change worldwide. Tsinghua will continue to provide our full support to the initiative,” said President Qiu.
The meeting was hosted by Yang Bin, Vice President and Provost of Tsinghua University. Lord Nicholas Stern, Professor of the London School of Economics and Political Science, and He Jiankun, Director of the Academic Committee of the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development of Tsinghua University, introduced the latest trends in global climate governance and explained the special significance of establishing a university alliance. Delegates from 12 member universities carried out in-depth discussion on the missions and vision, governance structure, development strategy, cooperation content, long-term planning and recent actions of the alliance.
In accordance with the charter approved by the Alliance, GAUC will focus on joint research, talent cultivation, student exchanges, green and carbon-neutral campus implementation, public engagement and other major aspects, including the strengthening of bilateral or multilateral cooperative research on key scientific, technological and economic policy issues related to climate change, economy and policy, the promotion of technological innovation and policy development, and the establishment of joint learning projects to promote exchanges and cooperation among young students around the world, and enhance public awareness and mobilize more climate change action through greater cooperation with related stakeholders.
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Writer: Wilson Khor- END -
