Benchmark the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to help Shanghai deepen its green development

The expert consultation meeting for the 2020 scientific research project "Shanghai Benchmarking the United Nations Sustainable Development Eco-Environmental Goals" undertaken by the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment was successfully held in the cloud

On the afternoon of July 8, 2020, the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment 's 2020 annual research project-Shanghai Benchmarking the United Nations Sustainable Development Ecological Environment-related Target Research, undertaken by the College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, was successfully held in the cloud.

The conference was hosted by Professor Chen Ling from the College of Environmental Science and Engineering of Tongji University. Shi Min, director of the Division of Science, Technology and International Cooperation of Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, and Dai Xiaohu, Dean of the College of Environmental Science and Engineering of Tongji University delivered speeches respectively. Professor Wang Xiangrong from the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering of Fudan University was invited to serve as the expert group leader of the consultation meeting. Among the experts present were Pu Zaiming, Dean of the National Academy of Strategy of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Professor Jia Haifeng of the Environmental System Analysis Istitute, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Professor Yang Kai, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences，East China Normal University, Zhou Fengqi, Director, Institute of Ecology and Sustainable Development, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences; Hu Jing, Director of Low Carbon Economy Research Center, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Professor Yang Haizhen, Environmental Planning and Management, College of Environmental Science and Engineering of Tongji Universit. Guo Ru, deputy director of the Institute of Environmental Planning and Management, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, presented the project to the experts on behalf of the project team.

Shi Min, director of the Division of Science, Technology and International Cooperation of Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, pointed out that global ecological and environmental issues have attracted wide attention from various countries. ‘Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ issued by the United Nations covers social, economic and environmental issues. The 17 goals provide guidelines for global sustainable development. As the leading city in the world-class city cluster in the Yangtze River Delta, Shanghai plays an important role and significance in benchmarking the international sustainable development ecological environment goals. Professor Dai Xiaohu, Dean of the College of Environmental Science and Engineering of Tongji University, pointed out that the impact of the Novel coronavirus has brought uncertainty to the future development of the world. The 2030 Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the United Nations are an important means to deal with future challenges. In 2020, Times Higher Education released the World University Impact Rankings based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Tongji University won 13th in the world and No. 1 in Asia, reflecting Tongji University’s solid foundation in sustainable development, scientific research and education. It also provides a good foundation and platform for the project team. He looked forward to valuable comments from experts to help the project team complete the research better and contribute to the green and high-quality development of Shanghai.

Professor Wang Xiangrong, the leader of the expert group, presided over the expert discussion session. First of all, the project team leader, Guo Ru, gave a detailed introduction from five parts: project background and significance, home and abroad research reviews, research objectives and content, research methods and progress, and next research plans. Afterwards, the experts conducted a targeted discussion. The experts believed that the project team’s work was well-prepared, and the requirements were met with the solid foundation, clear research ideas and reasonable framework. Many valuable insights have been put forward in aspects such as theoretical models, benchmark cities, research methods, specific indicators data and caliber. Ms. Huang Lihua from Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, fully affirmed the early efforts of the project team and thanked the participating experts. The project team will fully understand, digest and absorb the valuable suggestions put forward by the experts in future research, and provide scientific support for Shanghai to build an excellent global city with higher standards, and to practice ecological civilization and green development. The Shanghai Expert Consultation Meeting on Benchmarking the United Nations Sustainable Development Ecological Environment-related Targets Research Expert Consultation Meeting was successfully concluded