On the morning of June 8, the water town living room and Fangtang Water Institute of the Yangtze River Delta Ecological Green Integrated Development Demonstration Zone ushered in the first world-class event after completion. More than 400 representatives from 36 countries and regions gathered at the 2025 Global Environment and Sustainable Development Conference to focus on cutting-edge issues of sustainable development, and jointly discussed, exchanged and shared solutions and implementation paths for promoting ecological priority, conservation and intensiveness, and green development.
On the air view of the square hall and water courtyard. Photo by Suzhou Media Reporter Lu Yuqi
The water town living room is the core of the Yangtze River Delta integrated demonstration zone. The Fangtang Water Courtyard is the center "point" and core functional carrier of the water town living room, located on the origin of the Yangtze River Delta. Taking this academic event jointly organized by the United Nations Environment Programme, Tongji University, and the Executive Committee of the Yangtze River Delta Ecological Green Integrated Development Demonstration Zone, Fangting Water Institute, a new landmark in the Yangtze River Delta, ushered in the "first meeting".
Conference site. Photo by Zhou Yuelei, reporter of Suzhou Daily Media
The concept of sustainable development is the "golden key" to solve global environmental and development problems. At the conference, international experts and young people studied and proposed solutions in reducing pollution, saving resources, reducing carbon emissions, and protecting ecosystems in response to issues such as the intensification of global climate crisis, sharp decline in biodiversity, and green transformation.
">"This conference is not only an academic gathering, but also a platform for innovative space and cross-cultural cooperation, laying the cornerstone for the rise of the next generation of environmental leaders. I hope this conference will unleash the creativity and driving force of experts, scholars, teachers and students, promote waste reuse, and create a clean and healthy new future." said Elizabeth Mrema, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of the Environment Programme.
In the special report session, scholars and decision makers from Australia and Ethiopia reported and discussed the progress of net zero carbon building ecology and green power production financing. Duan Jin, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a professor at Southeast University, used the living room of the Yangtze River Delta water town as an example to analyze the innovative exploration of cross-provincial land space planning.
The conference exhibition was launched simultaneously, and relevant plans for ecological and environmental protection were presented in the form of pictures and texts. Photo by Zhou Yuelei, reporter of Suzhou Daily Media.
The four parallel forums of the conference were held in four theme exhibition halls: Anhui Pavilion, Jiangsu Pavilion, Shanghai Pavilion and Zhejiang Pavilion. Each parallel forum has multiple keynote reports and roundtable dialogues. Experts and scholars from home and abroad conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions on four aspects: sustainable energy, urban renewal, environment and resource utilization, and green finance, and proposed solutions with innovative thinking.
"The conference was held at Fangtang Water Institute and carried out cross-field, cross-age and cross-border exchanges and cooperation will stimulate more sparks of innovation and bring new impetus to the cause of global sustainable development." A relevant person in charge of the Executive Committee of the Yangtze River Delta Ecological Green Integrated Development Demonstration Zone said that in the future, large-scale international and domestic conferences such as the Yangtze River Delta Reits Forum and Taihu World Cultural Forum will be held here. In the future, a large number of high-standard domestic and international conferences, exhibitions, and forums will take root here every year. More people, logistics, capital flows, and information flows will gather and flow here, which will effectively activate regional development momentum and enhance the attractiveness and competitiveness of the region across the country and even the world.
(Editor: Late Qiu)
