DAVOS, Switzerland — The Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC) convened its Board Meeting and a high-level dialogue themed "Unlocking Climate Solutions: Bridging Campuses and Industry" on January 20 during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026. The gathering brought together university leaders, corporate executives, and climate experts to advance university-industry collaboration and accelerate the green transition.

LI Luming, President of Tsinghua University and Chair of the GAUC Board, delivered remarks emphasizing the pivotal role of higher education institutions in addressing complex global climate governance challenges.He called for sustained practical cooperation among member institutions through the alliance platform, and for cultivating next-generation climate leaders with global vision through student exchanges and joint research initiatives, contributing to climate change and sustainable development efforts.

During the Board Meeting, ZHANG Jian, GAUC Deputy Secretary-General, presented a comprehensive review of the alliance's 2025 achievements in collaborative research, youth development, and public engagement. The session was chaired by Professor CHEN Deliang, Xinghua Distinguished Chair Professor at Tsinghua University, who urged the alliance to consolidate efforts in climate science communication, technology transfer, and policy advocacy.

The Board formally approved the nomination of The Australian National University (ANU) as a new Co-Chair of GAUC. Professor Lewylyn Hughes, Director of ANU's Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions, joined via video conference. He expressed that ANU looks forward to collaborating with alliance members to seize the opportunity of Australia's COP31 presidency of negotiation, leveraging its strong connection to the Pacific region and leadership role across Australian universities to build a more impactful network.

Board members engaged in substantive discussions on external cooperation strategies. Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, advocated for concentrated efforts on specific challenge areas to amplify collective scientific voices. Evelyn Wang, Vice President for for energy and climate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, stressed the imperative of systemic solutions that bridge fundamental research to market application.

The subsequent high-level dialogue featured insights from prominent academic and industry leaders. Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, underscored universities' responsibility to mobilize startups, investment, and communities in green transformation efforts. Luis Vassy, President of Sciences Po, shared experiences from the institution's newly established Paris Climate School. Patrick V. Verkooijen, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi and CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation, called for strengthened North-South academic collaboration on climate adaptation. Ebrahim Al Hajri, President of Khalifa University, presented the university's model of translating research outcomes through dedicated corporate entities. Hideaki Ito, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, reflected on long-standing enterprise-university partnerships. Wang Yi, Vice President of the Institutes of Science and Development at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, emphasized the critical importance of interdisciplinary education in confronting climate challenges.

The event marked another milestone in GAUC's ongoing mission to unite global academic excellence with practical climate action.

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