SDG 13: Climate Action

SDG 13:
CLIMATE ACTION

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Teaching and Learning, Outreach and Engagement

From evidence to action: Student-led climate action in Hong Kong

The General Education capstone course “Taking a Stand: Turning Research Insights into Policy Recommendations”, taught by Dr Simon Wang of the Language Centre, built students’ capacity to translate climate research into actionable policy and public communication in Hong Kong. Through a seminar on public health and the environment that examined the Government of the HKSAR’s long term decarbonisation strategies under the Paris Agreement, data analysis workshops and forums with representatives of non-governmental organisations and community members, students learnt to conduct research, analyse evidence, access government information and engage stakeholders. Working in groups, they crafted evidence-based recommendations on climate relevant issues such as energy transition and low carbon mobility and shared them through letters to the editor, opinion pieces in newspapers, reports to the Government of the HKSAR and online and offline community activities. Community engagement portfolios and reflective journals reinforced students’ skills in risk communication and advocacy. The course directly supports SDG 13 by strengthening the local capacity for climate action and amplifying informed public discourse.

Enhancing climate awareness through the Ban Ki-moon Peace Museum and Park experience

In June 2026, the International Office organised the “Extended Study Programme – South Korea Excursion: Exchange, Dialogue and Collaboration between China and South Korea” for 23 students. A signature component of the programme was an immersive learning experience at the Ban Kimoon Peace Museum and Park, where participants took part in workshops, simulation exercises and interactive discussions on climate change, broader environmental challenges and the collective responsibility required to address them. Inspired by the vision and contributions of former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, students explored the roles of policy, innovation and cross-sector collaboration in advancing long-term sustainability goals. The programme provided valuable opportunities to reflect on the interconnections among climate resilience, environmental stewardship, economic development and social well-being, while deepening understanding of the challenges associated with sustainable development in an increasingly interconnected world. Through experiential learning and intercultural exchange, participants broadened their perspectives on sustainability issues, strengthened their sense of global citizenship, and developed a greater appreciation of how informed action and international collaboration can contribute to a more resilient and environmentally responsible future.

Research

Opposing trends in wintertime convective initiation environments of East China driven by anthropogenic aerosols and greenhouse gases

Department of Geography
Authors: Xinyan LI, Fan WANG, Yizhou ZHUANG, Aiguo DAI, Meng GAO*
_{*Corresponding author}

This research shows how human-caused emissions are creating opposing weather trends in East China, which is directly relevant to climate action goals. In northern East China, air pollution particles (aerosols) are making the winter atmosphere more stable, while in the south, greenhouse gases are making it less stable and more prone to severe weather. This study highlights the complex and sometimes conflicting impacts of different types of pollution. Understanding these competing effects is crucial for developing effective climate policies. To successfully combat climate change and its impacts, such as hazardous winter weather, nations must create balanced strategies that address both aerosols and greenhouse gases, as this research demonstrates their distinct regional consequences.

Distribution and trends of wintertime atmospheric unstable conditions across China from 1979-2020.

Changes in wintertime atmospheric unstable conditions under historical and individual forcing scenarios during 1979-2014.

CA-ConvLSTM: A cross-attention-based deep learning framework for joint prediction of sea surface temperature and sea level anomaly

Department of Computer Science
Authors: Benyun SHI, Hongwang LIN, Yuting ZHU, Hailun HE*, Qi TAN, Yue PENG, Jiming LIU
_{*Corresponding author}

This research develops an artificial intelligence algorithm called CA-ConvLSTM to forecast two important ocean conditions simultaneously: sea surface temperature and sea-level change. Rather than treating them separately, the system learns how ocean heat and movement influence each other. Tests using South China Sea data showed that it predicted both conditions more accurately than several leading comparison models. The work contributes to SDG 13 by strengthening climate monitoring and supporting better forecasts of ocean warming, sea-level variation, monsoons and potentially cyclone-related conditions. It also supports SDG 14, as earlier and more reliable warnings of marine heat stress and changing ocean conditions could help scientists, fisheries and coastal managers protect vulnerable ecosystems and manage marine resources more sustainably.

Predictability extends to around nine days for both SST and SLA in the South China Sea, with overlapping highlead- time regions near 18°N, indicating coupled SST–SLA mesoscale predictability.

Sustainability Initiatives

Carbon neutrality commitment

HKBU is dedicated to tackling climate change and has made significant progress towards carbon neutrality through a clear policy framework and targeted measures.

Policy framework
Key policies include the Sustainability Policy, University Green Policy for Capital Projects and Major Addition and Alteration Projects for University Campus, Sustainable Procurement Policy, Sustainable Food Policy, and Waste Management Policy.
The Carbon Neutrality Policy defines goals and strategies to reduce the University’s carbon footprint and guide decarbonisation. Policies are available at https://hkbu-sustainability.hkbu.edu.hk/policies-and-guidelines.html.

Emission reduction targets
A five-year energy management plan covering 2025 to 2030 has been developed with specific measures to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and conducts annual reviews. A Carbon Neutrality Strategy Plan (2023) sets targets aligned with Hong Kong’s roadmap:
• Medium-term: Reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50% by 2035-36
• Long-term: Achieve carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2044

Progress on carbon neutrality target
The University is on track to achieve its medium-term target of reducing the said carbon emissions by 50% by 2035-36, compared to the 2012-13 baseline level.

Actual emissions (Scopes 1 & 2)	17,250 tCO₂e
Actual % change (Scopes 1 & 2) (against 2012-13)	-36%

Decarbonisation strategies
HKBU’s actions span four pillars:
1. Energy saving and green buildings: Implement energy-saving projects, maintain efficient operations, build on-site renewables, and obtain green building certifications for new and major works.
2. Green transport: Equip new car parks with EV chargers, upgrade and expand chargers at existing sites, and replace gasoline-powered vehicles with EVs.
3. Waste reduction: Advance sustainable procurement and green catering, roll out rewardbased programmes, and expand recycling.
4. HKBU community engagement: Run engagement activities, events, and education for staff and students; display energy dashboards in public areas.

Earth Hour 2026

In March 2026, HKBU once again demonstrated its commitment to environmental action by participating in Earth Hour 2026 under the theme “Give an Hour for Earth”. This year’s slogan, “Don’t hesitate – make it happen!”, underscores the call for immediate action on environmental sustainability.

The University joined the global movement by encouraging staff and students to switch off non-essential lighting and embrace more sustainable lifestyle choices. HKBU also promoted the initiative through digital channels and invited the University community to take part in “The Biggest Hour for Earth”. This symbolic action aimed to reduce energy consumption and reinforce the importance of individual efforts in addressing climate change.

Promoting Earth Hour 2026: Encouraging all students and staff through mass email and social media outreach to render support by switching off lights for one hour.

Waste-free campus promotion booth

The Waste-free Campus Promotion Booth, held in September 2025, engaged around 100 new potential users for Green Corner. Staff and students learned about campus sustainability initiatives such as the Lunchbox Lending Programme, Green Corner recycling, and green catering initiatives. The event also provided the reward points redemption gained by recycling at Green Corner, where more than 2,000 points were redeemed. This outreach stimulated greater awareness and participation in campus waste reduction efforts, supporting HKBU’s goal of a waste-free campus.

Waste-free Campus Promotion Booth.

SDGs Day@HKBU – Green campus game booth set up by Estates Office

In November 2025, HKBU hosted the SDGs Day@HKBU, a collaborative event organised by the Human Resources Office and the Centre for Innovative Service-Learning to highlight the United Nations’ SDGs and their significance within the Hong Kong context. As a supporting office to the event, the Estates Office set up the Green Campus Game Booth at Li Promenade, inviting the campus community to engage with HKBU’s ongoing campus sustainability efforts. Participants enjoyed the interactive activities including a capsule toy reward game through a mini-quiz on campus sustainability, the redemption of Green Corner reward points for sustainable gifts, and informative displays showcasing the University’s green facilities. This event successfully fostered awareness and engagement across campus, reinforcing HKBU’s commitment to advancing sustainability.