From Hong Kong to the world: CityUHK drives a sustainable future
As environmental challenges escalate and extreme weather events become more frequent, City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is dedicated to tackling global issues through close collaboration and knowledge exchange with environmental experts, scholars and institutional representatives from around the world.
Professor Benjamin Horton, Dean of the School of Energy and Environment at CityUHK, recently attended the 3rd International Conference on Advancing Sustainable Futures 2025 at Abu Dhabi University. The conference explored how emerging technologies can harmonise with the natural world to address the most pressing challenges, from climate change and resource depletion to social inequality.
Professor Horton, along with experts from Ireland, Poland and the United Arab Emirates participated in a panel discussion, titled “The Green Revolution 2.0: Strategic Collaborative Pathways Between Industry, Academia and Government for Global Sustainability”. The panel discussed how strategic collaboration among industry, academia and government can drive the next phase of the Green Revolution and foster scalable solutions for global sustainability.
Professor Horton emphasised the urgent need for actionable science to tackle climate challenges across Asia and the world. Drawing on his personal experience with extreme weather events in Hong Kong, China and Singapore, he stressed that universities must not only generate knowledge but also ensure it reaches those who can implement it — governments, businesses and communities.
He pointed out that partnerships between academia and industry are essential for accelerating innovation, scaling solutions and building resilience. CityUHK is committed to working closely with industry leaders on various initiatives, such as the development of clean energy technologies and the shaping of climate policy — all aimed at translating research into real-world impact, he added.
“Universities have a responsibility to address the grand challenge of climate change,” said Professor Horton. “They are uniquely positioned to tackle this issue because climate adaptation is inherently interdisciplinary—combining science, engineering, economics and social policy. Universities bring together these diverse fields under one roof, making them ideal hubs for innovation and collaboration.”
In addition to attending international conferences to exchange ideas with environmental experts, CityUHK scholars have actively engaged in numerous media interviews to raise public awareness of the urgency of climate challenges.
Following the devastating floods and landslides that struck parts of South and Southeast Asia and the super typhoon that struck East Asia last year, Professor Horton and Professor Chu Jung-Eun, Assistant Professor in the School of Energy and Environment, gave timely interviews to both local and international media outlets. They shared scientific insights and detailed analyses to help the public better understand these extreme weather events.
“Abnormally warm ocean temperatures in the western Pacific, combined with unusual strong northeasterly monsoon winds, La Niña conditions, and the overarching effects of global warming, have driving more extreme weather events recently in Southeast Asia,” Professor Chu said. She further emphasised that massive deforestation has worsened flood severity, underscoring the urgent need for climate-adaptive urban planning with improved drainage systems and resilient infrastructure.
In response to the Hong Kong Observatory issuing multiple Black Rainstorm Warnings last year — breaking records — and the surge in extreme weather events across Asia, Professor Horton released an eight-point manifesto calling for urgent action against climate change. He warned that the decisions we make today will shape long-term liveability, economic resilience and global leadership. “We must act with urgency and ambition to shape a sustainable future, not just for Hong Kong, but for the entire region and beyond,” he said.
CityUHK will continue to participate in various international conferences and events, demonstrating its strong commitment to advancing sustainable development.