On October 17th, 2009, the Declaration of International Higher Education Alliance for Mining, Energy and Environment was jointly initiated and signed by 11 worldwide renewed universities in China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT). The members include CUMT, Moscow State Mining University (Russia), RWTH Aachen University (Germany), Technischen Hochschule Georg Agricola zu Bochum (Germany), West Virginia University(USA), University of Kentucky(USA), the University of Western Australia (Australia), the University of Queensland (Australia), Gunma University (Japan), the University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany) and Hanoi University of Mining and Geology(Vietnam).

The Declaration points out, the world is now facing the challenges of resources, energy and environment, which are of great threats to the sustainable development of our society. The threat exists when humankind has not solve the basic issues of existence and development. It still has a long way to reach common consensus on developing utilizing system and obtaining key technologies on alternative energy and environmental protection. The declaration calls on worldwide resource, energy and environment related universities to take positive actions to tackle these challenges.

On the meeting, based upon the principals of equality, voluntary, mutual trust and benefit, the participating universities jointly initiated and established the International Higher Education Alliance for Mining, Energy and Environment, and discussed issues of mining, energy and environment in higher education and scientific research. Common consensus were achieved as follows:

1. All participating universities agree to jointly establish the International Higher Education Alliance for Mining, Energy and Environment. The aim of the Alliance is to, upon the guidance of related international treaties and agreements on mining, energy and environment and within the framework allowed by laws of respective countries and regions, extensively unite the strength of each side to tackle the challenges brought by mining, energy and environment.

2. The alliance will implement broad international cooperation on green mining, clean and efficient utilization, new energy exploitation, environmental protection and climate change, by means of talent training, scientific research and technology transfer.

3. The alliance will be consist of worldwide universities related in mining, energy and environment and implement presidium responsibility system. The position of executive chairman of the Alliance will be rotated among its members.

4. The secretariat of the Alliance is permanently set in China University of Mining and Technology in Xuzhou City, P.R. China. Prof. Song Xuefeng is elected as the Secretary General of the Alliance, responsible for the daily affairs.

The Declaration also proposes the Alliance’s objectives and tasks, including promoting talent training in the areas of mining, energy and environment; positively propelling curriculum recognition, students and textbook exchanges and information sharing among its member universities; regularly sponsoring high-level seminars and academic conferences; facilitating the cooperation on global warming, energy saving, emission deduction, new energy exploitation and utilization among its members; regular high-level mutual visits and academic exchanges.