CityUHK scholars outline a roadmap to a sustainable future at Global Sustainable Development Congress

SHARON LEE, SAMSON MAK

22 Jun 2026

For the third consecutive year, CityUHK will act as the sole Green Innovation Partner at the 2026 GSDC in Jakarta. During the event, CityUHK speakers will present a diverse range of insights focused on technology, social resilience, and the urgent realities of climate change.

For the third year in a row, City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is proud to serve as the sole Green Innovation Partner at the Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) 2026, Jakarta, affirming its dedication and commitment to striving towards a greener future.

At the four-day event from 22 to 25 June, CityUHK scholars and guest speakers from industry, NGOs, and entrepreneurial sectors will participate in keynote talks, panel discussions, and showcase presentations and workshops. Their discussion will focus on topics such as climate change, social policy, urban resilience, and how to nurture the next generation of sustainable world leaders.

This year, CityUHK’s booth at Hall 3-3A of the Indonesia Convention Exhibition spotlights three specific zones: “Cooling Tree”, “Living Shorelines”, and “Sustainable Farm”, each detailing groundbreaking research and technological innovation at CityUHK. Visitors at the booth are invited to learn more about how CityUHK’s ongoing sustainable and green initiatives are supported by partners and peers in academia and industry.

CITYUHK_BOOTH_render_REV_060626_1 - CitiU_Booth

CityUHK’s booth at Hall 3-3A of the Indonesia Convention Exhibition spotlights three specific zones: “Cooling Tree”(centre), “Living Shorelines” (front), and “Sustainable Farm” (left), each detailing groundbreaking research and technological innovation at CityUHK.

The “Cooling Tree” zone, spearheaded by the School of Energy and Environment, featured an artificial tree made by eco-friendly En-board. Each ‘leaf’ on the tree was covered by i2Film, a high-efficiency, energy-saving solar film that significantly reduces the need for air conditioning and drives emission reduction.

The solar film was developed by i2Cool, a technology-based start-up incubated by CityUHK’s HK Tech 300 programme. Visitors at the booth were also invited to test out the insulation effectiveness of i2Cool’s innovations on seat covers made with i2Leather, a versatile passive-cooling textile that can be incorporated in furniture manufacturing or summer clothing.

“Living Shorelines” featured “Artificial Mussels” and “Smart Sponges” from the State Key Lab of Marine Environmental Health (SKLMEH), welcoming visitors to dip their hands into the water to examine each component more clearly.

Along the sides of the flowing ‘river’, visitors can also interact with models of the “Ecological Seawalls”, which were into Hong Kong’s first eco-shoreline. Featuring biomimetic surfaces and textured cavities, the seawalls encourage the growth of algae, molluscs, and fish, restoring ecological balance and aesthetic harmony along urban shorelines.

Modelled after the CityUHK Farm, the “Sustainable Farm” hosted by the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences (JCC) entertained visitors with a life-sized replica of a dairy cow and an artificial cornfield. Home to the only milking herd in Hong Kong, the CityUHK farm provides important hands-on training for the flagship Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine programme and produces delicious byproducts such as CityUHK Milk and CityUHK Ice Cream.

At the zone, research from the JCC showcased innovative agriculture and livestock farming techniques, such as incorporating Biochar and products from Black Soldier Fly Larvae farming into feed for poultry, cattle, and aquatic species for lower carbon emissions while enhancing gut health and metabolic pathways of the livestock.

Throughout GSDC 2026, CityUHK representatives will share expertise on pressing global issues and inspire new conversations to advance sustainable development. To learn more about how CityUHK sustainability experts are sharing insights at the Congress, please visit the thematic website.