Jointly organized by UNEP and Tongji University, 2010 Asia-Pacific Leadership Program on Environment for Sustainable Development, was launched in Tongji University on September 18th, 2010. The theme of this year’s program is “Expo and Sustainable Development”. 18 applicants from 13 countries around the Asia-Pacific region were selected as participants of the one-week course.

The Asia-Pacific Leadership program aims to improve the all-round thinking and decision-making abilities of the young and emerging leaders in government organizations, NGOs, and private enterprises in the Asia-Pacific Region. Professor Dong Qi, Vice President of Tongji University, delivered a welcome speech at the opening ceremony. Ms. Dechen Tsering, Deputy Regional Director and Representative for Asia and the Pacific of UNEP, made a key note speech entitled “Environmental Sustainability in Asia, with focus on the Rio+20 process”. Other attendees included Mr. Mahesh Pradhan, Director of Regional Resource Center for the Asia and Pacific, Mr. Mario, visiting Professor of Institute of Advanced Studies of United Nations University, Prof. Song Yajie, Director of Global Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development at Yale.