The 2024 Duke International Forum brought together representatives from the academia, scholars, policymakers, entrepreneurs and investors to focus on "Renovating Climate Policy and Green Finance for Future Sustainability."

Held in Kunshan in east China on November 1, it was hosted by Duke Kunshan University (DKU), founded by North Carolina-based Duke University and China's Wuhan University.

DKU's executive vice chancellor Dr. John Quelch stressed the forum's role in knowledge exchange and innovation to solve climate issues.

Quelch added that DKU has collaborated with its founders to launch projects on renewable energy, climate finance, and environmental policy. It has also integrated sustainability into its curriculum and campus life, including launching a campus-wide course called "Let's Talk About Climate Change."

The university's campus was the first in China to achieve LEED certification, a standard for environmentally responsible building design.

DKU chancellor Dr. Liu Yaolin highlighted climate policy and green finance as essential for balancing environmental and economic priorities, and encouraged global collaboration to tackle the complexities of sustainable development. Liu said DKU's partnerships with Duke and Wuhan universities are essential for interdisciplinary research to create actionable solutions in green technology, policy development, and environmental education.

Addressing the forum via video, Duke University's vice provost for climate and sustainability Dr. Toddi Steelman said both Duke and DKU "recognize that the intersection of innovative policy and strategic finance is critical for unlocking the full potential of the energy transition and more sustainable development."

Steelman underscored the power of building cross-country ties: "We must find ways to humanize the connections that bind us together as people and as part of the world community."

"I firmly believe that today's event will contribute to building even stronger ties, inspiring new ideas, and fostering the collaboration necessary to tackle these great global challenges," she said.

Senior representatives from Wuhan University, Kunshan city government, and China's National Development and Reform Commission echoed these sentiments and highlighted the importance of collaborations and DKU's role as a bridge between China and the world in addressing shared climate challenges.

The forum featured keynote speeches from experts across sectors and roundtable discussions with industry leaders in banking, finance, and law. The participants exchanged insights on pressing environmental issues, sustainable finance, and regulatory policies, aiming to build a collective path forward.

DKU also launched the Future17 SDG Challenge Project, an initiative to help students develop skills for tackling 21st-century global challenges. They will work with industry and academic mentors as well as peers from around the world to create innovative solutions for real-world issues associated with one or more of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Established in 2015, the Duke International Forum facilitates intellectual exchange and builds frameworks for collaboration and innovation.

This article was contributed by DKU.