On the morning of April 27th, the "40th Anniversary Celebration Ceremony of the School of Environment (SOE), Tsinghua University and Forum on Environment and Sustainable Development" was held in the back hall of the main building. Attendees included Li Luming, President of Tsinghua University; Zhao Yingmin, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment; Zheng Li, Vice President of Tsinghua University; and Jing Wenyong, the first Dean of the Department of Environmental Engineering, among others. Congratulatory letters were also received from Qu Geping, former Head of the State Environmental Protection Administration (now the Ministry of Ecology and Environment) and former chairman of Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee of the National People's Congress, and Xie Zhenhua, former China’s Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs. The conference was presided over by Wang Can, Chairman of SOE School Council.
Li Luming remarked in his speech that since its establishment in 1984, SOE has dedicated the past forty years to nurturing talent and serving the country through scientific research, and has achieved many brilliant accomplishments. Successive generations of students from the SOE, with their passion for the environmental cause, have strived for the development of environmental science and the environmental protection cause. Bearing a spirit "as towering as the sky and as steadfast as the earth" for research in mind, they have been brave and daring when facing challenges and have kept innovating. They have applied their research findings to the motherland and have irrigated the green mountains and clear waters with their sweat. On behalf of the university, Li Luming expressed respect to all the predecessors, faculty and students who have contributed to the development of Tsinghua's environmental discipline, and gratitude to the institutions that have strongly supported the construction of Tsinghua's environmental discipline.
Li Luming noted that General Secretary Xi Jinping has highlighted the prioritization of the Beautiful China Initiative to support the nation's strength and rejuvenation, and the achievement of high-quality development driven by a high-quality ecological environment. Currently, the protection of our planet Earth and the promotion of sustainable development have become common concerns for the international community. As a significant participant, contributor, and leader in the global construction of ecological civilization, China needs to enhance its say and influence within the global environmental governance system. This is to contribute more Chinese wisdom and solutions for building a clean and beautiful world and for promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. To this end, Tsinghua University should keep in mind the major interests of the nation, perceive the trends of the times, and have the courage to take responsibility. Tsinghua University shall play an important role and make its due contribution. At the new starting point, Li Luming hopes that the SOE will delve into and diligently implement the Xi Jinping Thought on ecological civilization, and strive wholeheartedly towards the goal of building a world-class environmental discipline. In the journey of promoting the high-quality development of engineering fields at Tsinghua University, SOE should set an example and lead the trend. SOE shall persistently commit to the fundamental task of moral education and talent cultivation, and take on tasks for serving major national strategies, make a difference in promoting global environmental governance and actively add vitality to the construction of a carbon-neutral campus. What’s more, it is expected that SOE resolutely carry out the work deployment of the University Council of Tsinghua and diligently implement the "Action Plan of Tsinghua University to Fully Implement the Spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress". It should unite all faculty and students to promote the high-quality development of environmental disciplines. He stated that the university will continue to support the development of SOE, and looks forward to greater achievements and a more glorious future of SOE.
Li Luming delivers his speech
Zhao Yingmin stated that the SOE has been an important witness to, participant in, and contributor to the development of China's ecological and environmental protection cause. Over the past 40 years, adhering to the principle of being "as towering as the sky and as steadfast as the earth", SOE has actively engaged in the forefront of the national environmental protection efforts, serving as a high-end think tank and providing technical support. It has cultivated a large number of outstanding talents for the nation and has done a remarkable job in building environment discipline. The 20th National Congress of the CPC has outlined a grand blueprint for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through modernization with Chinese characteristics. Currently, China's ecological and environmental protection still faces structural, fundamental, and trend-based pressures that have not been eased, and the foundation for ecological and environmental improvement is not yet stable. The construction of ecological civilization is still in a critical period of overlapping pressures and moving forward with heavy burdens. The task of building a beautiful China remains arduous. SOE, an outstanding representative of environmental disciplines in China's higher education institutions, bears the responsibility of advancing the development of the country's ecological and environmental science and technology, and cultivating high-level environmental talents. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment has pledged to continuously support Tsinghua University in ecological and environmental technology innovation, talent cultivation, discipline construction, and international cooperation. The Ministry expects SOE to accurately seize the current era's opportunities for national ecological and environmental protection cause, and to bravely undertake its responsibilities and missions. For this, SOE needs to focus its energy on meeting the significant demands of the country's ecological civilization construction and pay attention to the cutting-edge developments in international ecological and environmental technology. In addition, SOE should keep aiming for building a world-class environmental discipline, cultivating more outstanding talents and leading figures in the field of ecology and environment, and achieving more outstanding scientific and technological innovation in the ecological and environmental field, thereby making new and greater contributions to the beautiful China Initiative.
Zhao Yingmin delivers his speech
Qu Geping stated in his congratulatory letter that over the past 40 years, SOE has made significant contributions to China's environmental protection cause in areas such as scientific research, talent cultivation, and international cooperation. SOE has provided crucial theoretical, technological, and decision-making support for addressing major environmental issues and promoting sustainable development worldwide. Qu Geping expressed his hope that the SOE will continue to maintain a spirit of enterprise and strive to become a top-tier environmental discipline globally. He expects SOE to demonstrate new initiatives in building a beautiful China and to act as a role model and active disseminator of the philosophy of ecological civilization.
presenting Qu Geping’s inscription for the 40th anniversary of SOE
Xie Zhenhua stated in his congratulatory letter that the SOE has witnessed the development of China's environmental protection cause. SOE has provided significant technical support and decision-making services for the China's and the world's green, low-carbon sustainable development. Particularly in the field of environmental protection, SOE has cultivated a multitude of talents in engineering, scientific research, environmental management, and international cooperation. He expressed his hope that taking the 40th anniversary as a new starting point, SOE will make further accomplishments under the guidance of the Xi Jinping Thought on ecological civilization.
Reading of the congratulatory letter from Xie Zhenhua
Liu Yong, Representative, Dean of the College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (CESE), Peking University, expressed in his speech that as neighboring academic bodies, CESE and SOE share common goals and pursuits, and have supported each other to move forward together. The two parties have provided solid scientific and technological support in national air pollution control, the protection and management of key national watersheds, environmental quality assurance for major events, and fulfillment of obligations under global environmental conventions. He extended his wishes for SOE to continue its passion and dedication to further promote the environmental cause in the future. He hopes to continue to work hand in hand with SOE to make greater contributions to China's ecological civilization construction and global sustainable development.
Liu Yong delivers his speech
Liu Shuming, SOE dean, reviewed the achievements SOE has made over the past 40 years in talent cultivation, faculty development, scientific research, social service, and international education. He stated that SOE will continue to delve into and implement the Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era, and commit to the development of high-quality environmental education. SOE is dedicated to nurturing innovative and interdisciplinary top-tier talents and to building a disciplinary system capable of meeting future challenges. It consistently prioritizes serving national strategies and, through practical actions, is composing a new chapter in the construction of ecological civilization and high-quality development in the new era.
Liu Shuming presents a report on the SOE’s development
Wang Can presides over the anniversary
Jing Wenyong reflected on the establishment of the Department of Environmental Engineering at Tsinghua University, SOE’s predecessor. He stated that the growth and strength of the School of Environment are inseparable from the development of the national environmental protection cause. He expressed his hope that all faculty and students of SOE will carry a passion for and a sense of responsibility towards the environment, make more breakthroughs and contributions in the field, and devote their efforts to the environmental health and sustainable development of our country and the world.
Jing Wenyong gives his speech
Student representative Xiong Ruoxi shared her learning experiences from undergraduate to postgraduate studies. She remarked that the university and the school have provided students with many opportunities to participate in tasks in line with the demands of the new era. The new generation of environmental students will stay true to their original aspirations, strive to climb the peaks of knowledge, and continuously pursue academic excellence. The young generation will contribute their strength to building a beautiful China and realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Xiong Ruoxi gives her speech
The Forum on Environment and Sustainable Development was presided over by Hao Jiming, Academician of CAE and SOE Professor. Thomas J. Sargent, the 2011 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences and professor at New York University, was invited to deliver a special report. A. Michael Spence, the 2001 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences and professor at Stanford University, engaged in a dialogue with Dean Liu Shuming on sustainable development. Additionally, Qu Jiuhui, Academician of CAE and SOE Distinguished Professor, and Wang Jinnan, Academician of CAE, Chairman of Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences, Honorary President of Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, delivered introductory reports respectively.
Hao Jiming presides over the forum’s report session
Thomas J. Sargent gives his speech
A.Michael Spence dialogues with Liu Shuming
Qu Jiuhui presents his report
Wang Jinnan presents his report
He Kebing, Academician of CAE, Dean of the Institute for Carbon Neutrality at Tsinghua University, and Professor at SOE, presided over the discussion session. Academicians and experts engaged in a lively discussion on "Environment and Sustainable Development".
He Kebing hosts the discussion session
Experts and academicians speak at the discussion session (from left to right, from top to bottom: Qian Yi, Duan Ning, He Hong, Xu Zuxin, Ren Hongqiang, Feng Qi, Gao Xiang, Yu Hanqing, Yu Gang).
A total of over 400 attendees attended the event, including academicians and experts from the environmental field across the country, leaders from relevant units, representatives from brother universities, delegates from research institutions and enterprises, representatives from other departments and schools in Tsinghua, as well as SOE alumni, faculty members and student representatives.
SOE 40th Anniversary Celebration Ceremony
