CityUHK SEE Partners with AECOM in Strategic MoU to Strengthen Climate Resilience
The School of Energy and Environment (SEE) at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AECOM, a global leader in infrastructure consulting and professional services. This landmark collaboration strengthens SEE’s leadership in sustainability research and education, while deepening industry partnerships to accelerate Hong Kong’s progress towards climate resilience and decarbonisation.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Benjamin Horton, Dean of SEE and Chair Professor of Earth Science, CityUHK, and Dr. Johnny Cheuk, Senior Vice President and Hong Kong Executive Leader at AECOM, during the CityUHK SEE × AECOM MOU Signing Ceremony cum Climate Change Symposium held on 11 February 2026 at City University of Hong Kong.
The ceremony was honoured by the presence of Ir Dr. Otto Poon, BBS, OBE, Founder & Executive Director of ATAL Engineering Group and Founding Chairman of the Hong Kong Climate Change Forum, as the officiating guest. The event brought together leaders from academia, industry, government, and the private sector to witness this milestone collaboration and to exchange insights on strengthening climate resilience in Hong Kong and beyond.
The MoU represents an important step forward in strengthening collaboration between SEE and AECOM. The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation in sustainability, climate change, and environmental innovation, reflecting the shared commitment of academia and industry to address pressing global challenges.
As part of this collaboration, SEE and AECOM will explore establishing a Joint AECOM–SEE Laboratory focused on climate change, further strengthening research and innovation in this area. Through this partnership, SEE and AECOM will pursue joint initiatives that promote knowledge exchange, collaborative research, innovation, and capacity‑building. The collaboration also aims to provide training and development opportunities for students and professionals, while integrating academic excellence with practical expertise.
Following the MoU signing ceremony, the symposium featured a distinguished lineup of speakers from SEE and AECOM:
- Prof. Benjamin Horton, Dean of SEE and Chair Professor of Earth Science, CityUHK
- Mr. Stanley Liu, Executive Director, Ports & Marine, AECOM
- Mr. Delton Ng, Executive Director, Environment, AECOM
- Prof. Ping Han, Associate Professor, SEE, CityUHK
A panel discussion on Climate Change Challenges and Pathways Forward was moderated by distinguished guest Prof. Wong Kam Sing, GBS, JP, Chairman of Wu Zhi Qiao (Bridge to China) Charitable Foundation. The panel brought together a diverse range of voices from government, industry, academia, and the property sector, including:
- Chan Wai-tak, Principal Assistant Secretary (Works) 2, Development Bureau (DEVB), HKSAR Government
- Mr. Robert Chan, Vice President, Water, Asia, AECOM
- Prof. Jung-Eun Chu, Assistant Professor, SEE, CityUHK
- Ms. Hazel Cheng, Project Manager – Sustainability, Henderson Land Development Co. Ltd.
The discussion touched on Hong Kong’s most pressing climate challenges, government strategies for green development, the evolving role of ESG in the property sector, research gaps in climate science, innovative water management technologies, opportunities for green finance, and regional collaboration within the Greater Bay Area.
With this strategic alliance, CityUHK SEE reaffirms its role as a leader in sustainability research and education, working hand-in-hand with AECOM to drive innovation and capacity building for a climate-resilient Hong Kong.
SEE extends its sincere appreciation to the distinguished officiating guest, speakers, panelists, and all participants for their valuable contributions. Special thanks are also given to AECOM for their partnership, and SEE looks forward to deepening collaboration in advancing sustainability and climate resilience.
