Forum offers green advice to UN body

China's success in bridging the gap between academia and the private sector was the highlight of a lead-up event over the weekend to the third United Nations Environment Assembly, the world's highest-level decision-making body on environmental issues, which is scheduled for Dec 4-6 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The lead-up event - the UN Science Policy Business Forum on the Environment - focused on private-sector green solutions to overcome the planet's pollution crisis and identified opportunities to grow green technology markets, driven by scientific advances.

More than 300 participants met to discuss how to strike a balance between building sustainable businesses and conserving the environment. Recommendations from the event will inform the assembly.