The SUNx Institute (SUNx Malta) and the World Academy of Sustainable Development Limited (WAOSD) today announced a long-term strategic partnership under the UN Sustainable Development Goal-17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The collaboration brings together SUNx’s globally recognised Climate Friendly Travel (CFT) framework with WAOSD’s scientific leadership and extensive networks across China and Belt & Road countries to accelerate climate-positive transformation in the Travel & Tourism sector.

Both organisations share a common conviction: Climate Change is an existential threat. Guided by the CFT Framework which is based on the Paris 1.5°C target, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the Convention on Biological Diversity, the partnership aims to fast-track resilience and sustainable transformation across destinations and businesses.

Under the agreement, SUNx and WAOSD will jointly advance four core deliverables designed to strengthen climate action throughout the tourism ecosystem:

1. Promote Climate Friendly Travel (CFT) Across China & Belt & Road Countries
   The partners will launch coordinated outreach, training, and knowledge-exchange activities to introduce SUNx CFT system - Education-to-Action - to government bodies, Tourism authorities, industry associations, and academic institutions across the region.

 

3. Encourage Hotels & Tourism Enterprises to Join the CFT Registry
   WAOSD will support SUNx in driving hotel and tourism-sector participation in the global CFT Registry, a transparency and reporting mechanism helping businesses track and demonstrate progress toward climate-aligned operations. The registry will serve as an important catalyst for industry accountability and accelerated climate action.

 

4. Support Tourism Destinations and Registered Hotels with Developing CFT Climate Action Plans
   The partnership will help participating Tourism destinations and companies move from awareness to action by developing Paris 1.5, SDG & Nature+ve Climate Action Plans. SUNx’ CFT methodology will be paired with WAOSD’s scientific expertise to ensure that businesses have practical, achievable pathways to cut emissions, build resilience, and align with international climate frameworks.

 

5. Promote “Dodo4Kids” Climate & Biodiversity Education
   Recognising the importance of Youth “Education2Action” the organisations will collaborate to localise and promote the SUNx Dodo4Kids programme - a creative climate-education initiative designed to instil environmental awareness and positive action in the next generation.

 

Geoffrey Lipman, SUNx President said:

“We are delighted to consolidate our partnership with our old friend and colleague Jinfeng Zhou and WAOSD to help bring Climate Friendly Travel and our Education2Action program to China and Belt & Road countries. We have been collaborating - originally with the late Maurice Strong, father of the UN Climate, Sustainability and Nature Framework -  for more than a quarter of a Century and share a positive world view in which the immense socioeconomic strength of China and its Belt and Road strategy is a key driver for Climate Friendly Travel in a fragmented world challenged by the existential Climate Crisis.”

Dr. Jinfeng Zhou, President of WAOSD, added:

“Tourism sits at the intersection of biodiversity, climate, and human well-being. Through this collaboration, we will help ensure that China and Belt & Road countries can adopt world-class climate standards while fostering sustainable economic growth and protecting the planet for future generations. This reflects the vision of Maurice Strong, the architect of the UN Climate and Sustainability framework, who was our inspiration.”

About SUN^x Malta SUN^x Malta is a legacy program of the late Maurice Strong, built to support Climate Friendly Travel – low carbon, SDG-linked, and Paris 1.5-aligned. It is supported by the Malta Tourism Authority. Working with partners like the Institute of Tourism Studies Malta, SUN^x develops climate resilience through education, innovation, and global engagement.

About The World Academy of Sustainable Development Limited (WAOSD)
WAOSD is an international scientific organization headquartered in Hong Kong, dedicated to addressing the triple planetary crisis—the biodiversity crisis, climate crisis, and public health crisis—through scientific innovation and global collaboration. The Academy focuses on core areas such as biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and public health improvement, promoting interdisciplinary research, international dialogue, and the translation of policies into practice.