Sustainable conversations

THE 2nd Asia-Pacific Leadership Programme on the Environment for Sustainable Development opened in Shanghai on September 4.
The first of its kind in the world, the programme aims to reinforce environmental awareness among young emerging leaders in government organizations, NGOs and private enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region, helping them incorporate the concept of sustainable development into their decision making.
It is jointly organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Tongji University.
¡°China as well as many parts of Asia are following the pattern set by developed countries ?to get rich quickly and clean up later,?said Surendra Shrestha, regional director and representative of the UNEP in the Asia-Pacific region, at the programme¡¯s opening ceremony.
¡°To reverse the trend within one generation, we have to think outside the box and to work across boundaries to find unconventional ways to sustainable development,?he said.
The seven-day long programme incorporates lectures, workshops and field trips including one to Anji County, Zhejiang Province of East China, which serves as an example of eco-friendly development. All courses are taught in English by experts from the UNEP Asia-Pacific offices as well as the Asia-Pacific University Consortium.
Commenting on the curriculum design which includes human, environmental and developmental issues, UNEP¡¯s China co-ordinator Shao Xuemin said: ¡°Rather than being solely scientific or social, our programme takes a wholisic approach. By doing so, we expect the participants to find it a value-added programme rather than a normal business workshop.?
In the programme, the most pertinent environmental issues in the region will be discussed, including a series of problems caused by high-speed urbanization such as air pollution and acid rain, and food, water and energy security.
The event can also lead to regional co-operation in addressing environmental challenges, which will be all the more important when working on a worldwide scale, said Shao.
The programme was first held in July 2004, two years after the establishment of the UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development (IESD) in May 2002. From September this year, the IESD also runs the Master¡¯s Programme in Environment for Sustainable Development, a two-year course incorporating an internship at the UNEP¡¯s offices worldwide.