Celebrating its 70th anniversary on November 6, 2022, China University of 
Geosciences (Wuhan) held International University Presidents' Forum, themed 
"Habitable Earth: Mission and Challenges for Research Intensive Universities". 

Representatives from world-renowned research universities in Earth Science, 
principals of primary and secondary schools, and distinguished scholars from 
all over the world gathered in-person or online. The participants engaged in 
discussions on major challenges to the habitability of the Earth, and exchange 
of ideas on the mission, responsibilities and pathways of promoting the 
habitability of the Earth through education. The forum jointly released the 
Wuhan Consensus: An Initiative for a New Geoscience Education. (Full text of 
the Consensus: https://en.cug.edu.cn/Wuhan_Consensus.htm)

The Consensus emphasizes that a shared future of mankind hinges on the 
habitability of the Earth. A shared future for mankind is determined by the 
habitability of the Earth. Due to the combined effects of the Earth's own 
evolution and anthropogenic changes, a global shortage of energy resources, 
environmental pollution, climate change, frequent disasters and ecological 
damage become increasingly serious, threatening the livability of the Earth at 
unprecedented rates.

Modern Earth Science has made significant progresses and entered into the era 
of Earth System Science, with a focus on studying the past, present and future 
of a habitable Earth by looking into the deep Earth, deep sea, deep space and 
deep time. 

In response to the advancement of science and the call of the times, the 
Consensus advocates a renewed perception and definition of the role of mankind 
and its position and living style in the world under the multiverse outlook. 
The Consensus informs that all mankind should adjust and optimize the value 
system, knowledge system and dissemination system of geoscience education.

To form a more diversified, comprehensive and inclusive paradigm, under which 
theories, technologies and methods could be generated, contributing to green 
and low-carbon production and life styles. 

The habitability of the Earth has long been wrecked in the "Anthropocene". It 
is high time to initiate, facilitate and practice a brand-new geoscience 
education that helps to reposition humanity as one of the multitudinous 
participants and builders of a habitable Earth.

The Consensus calls on global universities, research institutions, primary and 
secondary schools, as well as all sectors of society for concerted actions to 
implement the new geoscience education and promote harmonious co-existence 
between man and nature in a timely manner.

Source: China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)

Image Attachments Links:

   Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=433183

   Caption: China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) held International 
University Presidents' Forum, themed "Habitable Earth: Mission and Challenges 
for Research Intensive Universities".

   Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=433190

   Caption: Wuhan Consensus: An Initiative for a New Geoscience Education was 
released.