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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is organising a two-day “Global Conference on Climate Change: Polar Studies, Environment and Climate Change” starting today (9 April) as part of a series of events celebrating the visit the nation’s first independently built icebreaking polar exploration vessel “Xuelong 2” to Hong Kong.

CUHK is the exclusive Hong Kong co-host of this landmark event. Co-organised by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (Hong Kong Chapter), the CUHK Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, and the Polar Research Institute of Hong Kong, the conference brings together more than 2,000 scientists, policymakers, industry leaders and guests from around the world to take part in in-depth discussions on such topics as climate change, the environment and the connection between polar regions and the global community, aiming to inspire global solutions to climate change.

Professor Rocky S. Tuan, CUHK’s Vice-Chancellor and President expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all guests and welcomed all participants. Distinguished guests including Ms Chen Danhong, Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, Ms Michelle Li Mei-sheung, Permanent Secretary for Education of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Ms Wu Cheng, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, The Honourable Ma Fung-kwok, Chairman of the Organising Committee for the Visit of the “Xuelong 2” to Hong Kong, and Professor Ho Kin-chung, Chairman of the Executive Committee for the Visit of the “Xuelong 2” to Hong Kong attended the conference and officiated at the opening ceremony. 

In his welcome address, Professor Rocky S. Tuan, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, said, “As the only academic partner in this series of events to celebrate the visit of the ‘Xuelong 2’ to Hong Kong, CUHK is delighted to invite scientists from the vessel to participate in the two-day ‘Global Conference on Climate Change’ and interact with our staff and students, as well as experts from around the world. I was deeply honoured to be invited to the launch event for the nation’s 40^th Antarctic scientific expedition last year. CUHK aspires to further its commitment to supporting national efforts in addressing climate change and protecting marine resources.”

Ms Chen Danhong pointed out that the nation has always attached great importance to addressing climate change by actively promoting the development of green energy and the construction of an ecological civilisation. Efforts are being made to achieve a win-win situation for economic prosperity and environmental protection. Meanwhile, the nation has advanced communications with other countries and regions to explore the impact of climate change and develop global solutions to tackle this important challenge.  

In his address, The Honourable Ma Fung-kwok remarked that the “Xuelong 2” is China’s first independently developed two-way icebreaker, involving multiple cutting-edge technologies. Its visit to Hong Kong is set to further ignite the passion for scientific and technological innovation among young people in Hong Kong. This interdisciplinary and multidimensional international academic conference hosted by CUHK provides an excellent platform for academic exchanges during the visit of the “Xuelong 2”, making contributions to Hong Kong in terms of its innovation and technology development and talent cultivation and creating better opportunities for the city to strengthen scientific research cooperation with the mainland and the world.  

The conference sees dozens of top scientists from a range of fields including oceanography, marine biology, astronomy, glaciology and engineering, who have long been engaged in polar research, deliver presentations and participate in panel discussions, highlighting climate change’s profound impact on the global economy, society and ecological balance. With the polar regions being both the driver and indicator of climate change, in order to address the issue, it is essential to strengthen polar scientific research, promote interdisciplinary collaboration and advance international mega polar science programmes. During the breakout sessions, experts shared their research findings and practical experiences in their specialised fields, engaged in lively discussions, established cross-disciplinary connections and proposed research projects of mutual interest.

CUHK has been committed to sustainable development and climate research, supporting Hong Kong and the global community in addressing the climate challenge. Not only does it house the world’s first museum dedicated to climate change, the CUHK Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, but it also organises seminars, lectures, exhibitions and other activities to enhance public awareness and response capabilities to the climate crisis. The success of the conference represents a further advancement of the University’s collaboration with various sectors to combat climate change.

The conference will continue tomorrow on the CUHK campus, engaging students in a dialogue with scientists from the “Xuelong 2”.