HIT Co-hosts Second International Conference on Climate Leadership, Launches Climate Leadership Initiative

The Second International Conference on Climate Leadership was held in Harbin, the Summer Capital, from 18 to 20 July 2026. Co-hosted by the Business School of Harbin Institute of Technology, the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction at UCL, and the Chinese Economic Association UK/Europe, the conference brought together more than 300 experts and academics from 111 universities and research institutions across 23 countries and regions. Together with representatives from international organisations, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the business community, and leading academic journals, participants discussed the latest developments and global practices in climate leadership, whilst contributing Chinese perspectives and solutions to global climate governance. The Climate Leadership Initiative, jointly proposed by HIT and UNDP, was officially launched at the conference. The conference featured a line-up of world-class academics, with keynote speakers including members of the Royal Society of Canada, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, the European Academy of Sciences, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, as well as editors-in-chief of leading journals such as the Academy of Management Journal and the Review of Economic Studies. Distinguished experts also included a former Deputy Director of the Regional Cooperation Division of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a member of the Executive Council of the China Energy Research Society, and the Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP China. Spanning the fields of management, economics, and environmental science, the speakers represented the global forefront of these disciplines. Meanwhile, editors-in-chief from more than ten leading journals, including those in the Nature Portfolio and Cell Press, gathered for a Journal Editors Session to discuss cutting-edge trends. Five international organisations—UNDP, UNEP, WWF, WRI, and CBI—participated extensively, with UNDP holding its own dedicated joint session for the first time, affirming the conference’s international influence. The conference jointly launched The Climate Leadership Initiative, highlighting the role of science, technology, and business disciplines in linking climate technology innovation, business practice, and governance decision-making. The initiative calls for strengthened collaboration between business schools, science and engineering faculties, research institutions, and enterprises, marking a significant step for HIT in leveraging its distinctive disciplinary strengths to help Chinese universities transition from participants to leaders in global climate governance. As a leading university integrating science, technology, and business education, HIT has built an international collaboration platform. From convening global academics to launching the initiative, HIT has demonstrated through concrete action that Chinese universities can serve not only as participants but also as agenda-setters and drivers in global climate governance. With an open mindset, this century-old engineering institution is providing Chinese solutions for global sustainable development.