Shanghai has pledged to spare no efforts to improve the environment in time for World Expo 2010.

City officials made the announcement at the International Environmental Conference on World Expo 2010 yesterday, which is being attended by 300 environment experts from 14 countries and regions, reported Shanghai Daily.

"World Expo 2010 is an opportunity to improve our environment," said Xu Zuxin, director of the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau.

Experts said the city would focus on shifting to renewable energy sources to achieve more sustainable development.

Dr klaus Toepfer, the United Nations' under-secretary-general, who is also the executive director of the UN's environment program, said government, environment organizations and the private sector should establish partnerships to improve the environment.

The un will help Tongji University start a master program of environmental and sustainable development next year, the first time the UN has launched a degree.

Most students of the environmental masters will be recruited from government departments and the private sector in developing countries of the Asia-Pacific region.

Graduates will be awarded a master's degree at Tongji. The first 20 students will start study from next September.

(Xinhua News Agency September 30, 2004)