China joins Pune-based movement for NetZero university campus
21st century will be an Asian century with India and China in front to lead the green-growth for the benefit of planet and people
Li Qinglong, the first astronaut of China, has announced his support for Smart Campus Cloud Network (SCCN), established by Green Terre Foundation of Pune to promote participative awareness about climate change and carbon emissions amongst students and faculty of universities around the world.
According to a press statement issued by Green Terre Foundation, Smart Campus Cloud Network (SCCN) is global network of universities that encourages implementation of SDGs in the campus and thereby build the green skill in them to make them SDG-ready. It says that Qinglong’s support could accelerate the movement for creation of NetZero university campus and promote better people to people contacts between China and India.
The statement adds that Qinglong has encouraged Operation Earth, a Chinese NGO, to be the hub NetZero universities in China.
Li Qinglong
“From space, the Earth is so beautiful. It is our only but fragile home. We must protect her beauty and the ecosystem on which we rely for survival. Therefore, I am very happy to support the joint initiative of India’s Green Terre Foundation’s SCCN program and China’s Operation Earth, Climate Action. Young college students are the main force in developing and utilising cutting-edge aerospace technologies, including space technologies like space seed breeding, to address issues such as climate change and food security. University students from China and India should work together to protect the beautiful Earth,’’ says Qinglong.
China has pledged to United Nations that it would be Carbon Neutral by 2060. India has pledged to United Nations that it would become carbon neutral by 2070.
Green Terre Foundation says that its alliance with Operation Earth will promote through network practical activities in the university campus to make the campus NetZero along with research and development projects leading to NetZero.
NGOs, Operation Earth and Green Terre Foundation, believe that tomorrow’s youth are climate warriors
“We are all fighting a global war against our common enemy, which is climate crisis” says Rajendra Shende, Founder Director, Green Terre Foundation and Chairman of International Advisory Council of Operation Earth China.
“Both India and China countries are separated by mighty Himalaya. But Himalaya is also the symbol of unity. We are united by our common desire to address climate challenge by forming university to university alliance on Net Zero Campus,” says Chen Liangzhong, Founder of Operation Earth China and Advisor to Green Terre Foundation.
The statement adds that the 21st century will be an Asian century with India and China in front to lead the green-growth for the benefit of planet and people. It says that both the NGOs, Operation Earth and Green Terre Foundation, believe that tomorrow’s youth are climate warriors. They can achieve the NetZero campus targets much earlier and at the same time build their green skills to inspire and assist others in the sectors like clean energy.
Under the alliance, the network of universities would digitally exchange the information on their progress of efforts to make campus NetZero. They would undertake pilot projects on emerging technologies related to climate resilient and climate-friendly practices.
The statement adds that about 500 universities and higher educational institutes from 12 countries including China, UAE, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Egypt, Portugal and Spain are members of the network.
