From June 30 to July 1, 2025, the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC) Strategy Day was held successfully at Tsinghua University. Organized by the GAUC Secretariat and co-hosted by the Office of Green University, Tsinghua University. The event aimed to address global climate change challenges and advance the alliance’s strategic development in key areas such as climate education, governance structure, collaborative research, and partnerships.

Climate Education & Governance: Exploring Opportunities and Challenges

The GAUC Strategy Day officially launched on the afternoon of June 30. Professor LI Zheng, Secretary-General of GAUC and a professor at Tsinghua University, delivered a welcome speech, followed by Deputy Secretary-General Zhang Jian, who provided an update on the GAUC’s current progress.

Professor Guy Midgley, Dean of the Climate School at Stellenbosch University, and Professor Suzana Ribeiro, Dean of the COPPE Graduate School at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, then delivered keynote speeches on “Leveraging Alliance Collaboration to Drive Innovation in Climate Education,” emphasizing the critical role of climate education in combating climate change and exploring opportunities and challenges in interdisciplinary integration. Professor Li Zheng and Professor Frank Jotzo, Head of Energy at the ANU Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions, Australian National University, shared insights on “Governance and Organizational Structure”, discussing the need to expand membership and optimize governance frameworks. The discussions were moderated by Deputy Secretary-General Zhang Jian and Bob Ward, Policy and Communications Director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics.

Joint Research & Partnerships: Driving Interdisciplinary Cooperation and Action

On July 1, the event entered its second day. Professor Charlotte Halpern, Director of the Institute for Environmental Transformations at Sciences Po, delivered a keynote speech on “GAUC’s Joint Research and Initiatives to Advance Proactive Adaptation Actions.” Stephen Davison, Deputy Director of Cambridge Zero at the University of Cambridge, and Dr. Hu Bin, Director of Global Climate Governance Research at Tsinghua Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development, shared perspectives on “Partnerships and Collaboration,” exploring potential cooperation models and partners for global climate action.

Highlights: Campus Tour and Academic Exchange

Taking advantage of the GAUC Strategy Day, the Secretariat arranged a campus tour for participants, offering them a deeper understanding of Tsinghua University’s history and academic environment. On the morning of July 1, an academic research exchange session was held at Tsinghua’s Zero-Carbon Space to foster dialogue on climate research between Tsinghua scholars and GAUC member universities. A luncheon followed, featuring relaxed academic discussions where experts from Tsinghua’s Institute for Climate Change, Vanke School of Public Health, and School of Journalism and Communication shared key research advancements in climate-related fields.

The participants of the GAUC Strategic Day also includes: Dr. Neville Sweijd, Director of the Alliance for Collaboration on Climate and Earth Systems Science (ACCESS); Professor Kensuke Fukushi, Director of the Institute for Future Initiatives at the University of Tokyo; Professor Ralf Toumi, Co-Director of the Grantham Institute – Climate Change and Environment at Imperial College London; Associate Professor Ashwin K. Seshadri from the Divecha Center for Climate Change at the Indian Institute of Science; representatives from Yale University; as well as members of the GAUC Secretariat, including FU Yanan, Director of International Cooperation; Alice Ho, Chief Youth Officer; LIN Lu, Head of International Communications; and program officers JIA Longzhizi and AN Najiang.

This landmark gathering represented the alliance's first dedicated strategic convening since its establishment, serving to chart a definitive course for GAUC's future development. Through comprehensive deliberations, participants reached a consensus that the alliance will enhance its contribution to global climate action by: advancing innovative approaches to climate education; refining governance frameworks; fostering collaborative research initiatives; and expanding strategic partnerships. These concerted efforts will substantially optimizing the international community's capacity to achieve the objectives outlined in the Paris Agreement.

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