Global Universities Partnership on Environment and Sustainability-GUPES

The Global Universities Partnership on Environment and Sustainability (GUPES) was formally launched at Tongji University, Shanghai, China, on the occasion of the World Environment Day.
The launch of GUPES at Tongji University is a culmination of several preparatory processes that have been ongoing since the first GUPES Consultative meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya during November 2010. GUPES is expected to provide a platform for universities interested in enhancing environment and sustainability concerns through teaching, training and networking, with the following objectives:
- Evaluate experiences, lessons learnt, challenges and opportunities for the GUPES network since its inception;
- Agree on a common platform and strategic partnership framework for universities globally on environment and sustainability;
- Develop a strategic framework for resource mobilization for GUPES programmes, projects and activities as well as South-South and North-South partnerships; and
- Launch publications developed by UNEP’s Environmental Education and Training Unit in partnership with Universities from the GUPES network.
GUPES is also linked with the UN Higher Education Initiative on Sustainability, which will be launched during the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development.
The presentation included a High level panel on Universities and the transition towards ‘Green Economies’ and ‘Green Societies’ in the lead up Rio+20. It was held in conjunction with the 2012 International Student Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development, which gathered around 400 students from all across the world.