‘This Salon has provided an open platform for environmental industry professionals to learn from each other as well as to network. Similar events should be held regularly in the future to facilitate deeper discussions of environmental issues.’ This is a proposal made by Zhang Yong, secretary general of Tsinghua Alumni Association at Suzhou, after attending Duke Kunshan University’s first Environmental Industry Salon on July 10.
Jointly hosted by the Master of Environmental Policy Program and Government Training & Professional Education Programs of Duke Kunshan University, the Salon focused on ‘Insights into the U.S. Environmental Management System’. Industry leaders and Tsinghua University alumni were joined by Jin Ming, vice mayor of Kunshan Municipality in attending this event.
Dr. Shuyi Wang, director of Government Training and Professional Education Programs at Duke Kunshan University and a former California EPA (California Environmental Protection Agency) employee, kicked off the Salon with a presentation on the components of the U.S. environmental management system and their functions. She started with the structure and operation of US EPA and talked about its main environmental statutes, funding sources, organization system and functions. Then she cited California as an example to illustrate how local government can collaborate with the Federal government for compliance and enforcement of environmental statutes and regulations. Dr. Wang also elaborated on how environmental policies could drive the development of environment-related industry.
The presentation was followed by a lively discussion around the prospect and current challenges facing the environmental industry in China as well as the policy support needed to boost the industry. The discussants not only shared with each other the development and mission of their own companies, but also raised a series of interesting questions concerning the environmental issues in China.
Vice Mayor Jin pointed out that the environmental issue is a topic of great concern for the government as well as for the general public and corporations. He also encouraged environmental protection companies to seize this opportunity and contribute their bit.
Impressed by the world-class facility and superior location of Duke Kunshan University, the attendees suggested that more Environmental Industry Salon events to be held on the Duke Kunshan campus. Future discussions will be focused on Public-Private-Partnership (PPP), malodorous and black water cleanup and sponge city, etc.
The Salon event also featured an introduction to the Master of Environmental Policy degree program to be offered at Duke Kunshan and a new environmental research center slated to open in the near future.
