On April 3, 2026, the Alliance of Key Laboratories for Climate and Environmental Science (ANKL-CES) was officially established at Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST). Comprising 14 top-tier Chinese research platforms – including the State Key Laboratory of Climate System Prediction and Risk Management and State Key Laboratory of Climate Resilience for Coastal Cities – the Alliance aims to integrate China’s strategic scientific and technological resources to collaboratively address climate change and extreme disaster risks.
The inaugural conference gathered distinguished experts and leaders, including Academician Professor Dai Yongjiu (Sun Yat-sen University), Professor Cai Yingfeng (Deputy Director of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology), Professor Song Xiangzhou (Vice President of Hohai University), and Professor Chen Haishan (President of NUIST).
The conference elected Academician Professor Wang Huijun as Chairman of the Alliance Council. Professor Li Xiangdong (Director of the State Key Laboratory of Climate Resilience for Coastal Cities) and Professor Li Xiaoyan were appointed as Vice Chairmen. In his address, Chairman Wang Huijun noted that the Alliance marks a new era of collaborative innovation in China’s climate sector. He emphasized that the group would enhance the nation’s capacity to meet environmental challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration, resource sharing, and joint research initiatives.
Professor Duan Huan-Feng, Associate Director of the State Key Laboratory of Climate Resilience for Coastal Cities, represented the laboratory and delivered a speech during the first Council meeting. He expressed full support for the Alliance’s mission, proposing the creation of an open, long-term, and pragmatic platform to facilitate academic and research exchanges. He suggested integrating the strengths of alliance members to advance joint scientific research projects, personnel exchanges, and the sharing of laboratory resources. Furthermore, Professor Duan highlighted the importance of talent cultivation, advocating for an “incubation–mobility–retention” mechanism. He also suggested leveraging Hong Kong’s regional advantages to expand international perspectives and strengthen global academic influence and collaboration.
Looking ahead, the ANKL-CES will align with national strategic priorities and major needs, leveraging the collective strengths of key laboratories to tackle core technological challenges in climate, environment, and disaster prevention. By establishing an innovative mechanism which integrating government-industry-academia-research, the Alliance seeks to foster high-quality economic development and high-level ecological protection.