In an era where the world faces insurmountable barriers in the form of climate changes and social challenges, universities are becoming key arenas for devising strategies to address these issues. Higher education institutions assume a pivotal role in shaping contemporary values and strategies aimed at tackling ecological and societal challenges.

The International Conference "Universities and Climate Change: SCO Territory" serves as a platform for intellectual interaction among businesses, governments, and the scientific community from SCO countries, facilitating the discussions on reaching national and corporate goals in the climate agenda and decarbonization.

The conference seeks to address the following questions:

• What are the existing formats for strategic collaboration between businesses, universities, and governments in achieving state and corporate low-carbon development goals?
• What practical and strategic benefits can a university gain from engaging in the "green" agenda?
• What competencies are required for businesses to implement ESG strategies and improve non-financial reporting, for the financial sector to "green" portfolios, and for governments to carry out national decarbonization strategies? How can these competencies be cultivated in modern students?
• What opportunities do business and universities have within the framework of cooperation with colleagues from SCO countries in the climate direction?

The event will be held in a hybrid format on December 14-15, 2023, with physical venues in Almaty, Bishkek, Tashkent, and Moscow, complemented by an online broadcast available worldwide.

*SCO — Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, an international organisation with members including India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.