Serving as the sole Green Innovation Partner for the Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) for the third consecutive year, CityUHK has multiple scholars speaking at workshops, panel discussions, and showcase presentations during the four-day event in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 22 to 25 June.
Professor Kenneth Leung Mei-yee, Vice President (Research) and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health under the Department of Chemistry, joined the Green Skills Summit on Day 3 of the GSDC to address how marginalised communities may be left behind as companies and industries rapidly adopt green skills.
He stressed that the transition period must remain just and inclusive, and leaders must implement policies and strategies that create equitable pathways into green careers, ensuring that underserved communities receive equal benefits.
“To support our students and to create a future where they can fight for their dreams, we need to build a business ecosystem that’s attractive to young talent while also driving sustainability initiatives,” he said, adding that students should be open-minded and remain ‘forever learners’ who can adapt and evolve with the changing socioeconomic landscape.
Professor Leung also moderated the last CityUHK-led session of the Congress, which focused on coastal infrastructure and how eco-engineering can benefit both marine life and urban living. He highlighted his research team’s artificial seawalls project, which was integrated into Hong Kong’s first eco-friendly shoreline in the Tung Chung East reclamation area.
The artificial seawalls are featured in the “Living Shorelines” zone of CityUHK’s booth in Hall 3-3A of the Indonesia Convention Exhibition, along with two other zones: “Cooling Tree” and “Sustainable Farm”, each detailing ground-breaking research and technological innovation at CityUHK.
“Living Shorelines” featured “Artificial Mussels” and “Smart Sponges” from the State Key Lab of Marine Environmental Health, welcoming visitors to dip their hands into the water to examine each component more clearly. Visitors can also interact with models of the “Ecological Seawalls”. 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.
This article originated from CityUHK News Centre.