How to act on climate change? What are the challenges and opportunities?

“We can make concerted efforts in achieving carbon neutrality.” – Prof. Stephen Lau

“Climate change is an ongoing phenomenon, but it is never too late to save our planet.” – Wing-mo Leung

“Everyone can contribute to the environmental revolution.” – Prof. Christine Loh

“We can start by building a smart campus to get students ready for building a smart city.” – C. M. Shun

The fourth instalment of the 170th Anniversary Seminar Series, jointly organised by St. Paul's College and Asia Society Hong Kong Center, was held on 30 March. The webinar attracted close to 4,000 participants to learn about the challenges and opportunities in responding to climate change from speakers Prof. Stephen Lau – Honorary Professor, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Wing-mo Leung – Former Assistant Director, Hong Kong Observatory, and Prof. Christine Loh – SBS, JP, OBE, Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite, Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and moderator C. M. Shun (SPC ’82), Former Director, Hong Kong Observatory.

The average global temperature has increased by 1.2 degrees Celsius since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Last year, the government announced Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050 with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. To achieve this goal, Shun said, “We all have to do our part, including understanding climate change, reducing waste, developing green technology and redesigning our city."

Representing the architecture and education fields, Lau discussed five approaches to green building: low carbon design, smart design, human-oriented design, ageing health design and resilient design. He suggested the government to adapt successful green solutions of neighbouring cities to Hong Kong while making concerted efforts in achieving carbon neutrality.

Loh stressed that “We can all contribute to the environmental revolution and our future depends on the young generation.” Different countries should collectively make regulations and drive investments toward sustainable projects. She added, “Concerted effort is required as sustainability is about policy-making.”

To engage the community at large, Hong Kong needs to amplify its sustainability strategy and achievements. Following the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority have introduced a series of measures to enhance climate risk disclosure by listed companies and financial institutions. Loh encouraged students to enrich their knowledge in sustainability and seize the emerging opportunities in different fields.

To help the young generation develop interest in sustainability, the speakers suggested schools to be an innovative breeding ground. “We can start by building a smart campus to get students ready for building a smart city,” said Shun. These are also actions to transform Hong Kong into a smart city eventually. Leung encouraged students to learn and share through interschool green events. “Climate change is an ongoing phenomenon, but it is never too late to save our planet,” he added.