The secretary-general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon, was awarded an honorary doctorate by Nanjing University on Sunday, and delivered a speech on sustainable development in the university’s conference hall.
Ban was honored with the doctorate because of his contribution to internationalcooperation and world peace.
He said that, as the world’s second-largest economy, China can and must lead the way on the path of sustainability.
“The world’s resource basecan not support the consumption patterns seen in the industrialized nations. China must seek a different route,” he said. “Let China be the country to show the way ahead.”
Ban said that China has become the world’s largest manufacturer and exporter, and the world’s greatest emitter of greenhouse gases, which is the price of feeding the consumption habits of people in developed countries. He added that seven of the world’s 10 most polluted cities are in China.
He said that China has fortunately recognized these issuesitself, and is fighting climate change and environmental degradation rather than justfocusing on fighting poverty.
China invested $34 billion last year in its low-carbon economy, he said, more than any other nation, including Germany – which ranks second – and double what the US spent.
Nanjing University has enjoyed long-standing ties with the United Nations. Three of the seven UN Deputy Secretary- Generals to have come from China were graduates of the university, including incumbent Sha Zukang.
