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In celebration of its 4th Anniversary, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change launched ‘JC–CUHK Climate Action’ with funding of over $35 million from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust (the Trust) today (16 December). The programme will run a series of education and outreach initiatives that aim to narrow the gap between climate awareness and climate action in Hong Kong.

Officiating at the 4th Anniversary Celebration and launch ceremony today were The Hon Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for the Environment of the HKSAR Government, The Hon Sir C K Chow, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club), Professor Joseph Sung, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, Dr Rebecca Lee, Founder of the Polar Museum Foundation, and Professor Fok Tai-fai, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of CUHK and Chairman of the Steering Committee for Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change.

Professor Sung explained that outreach education activities had become a core element in today’s museums. ‘With the generous support of the Trust, the Museum will continue to run a variety of climate action initiatives and projects under the theme “JC–CUHK Climate Action” in the coming three years to help the people of Hong Kong better understand the potentially devastating effects of climate change and inspire solutions,’ he added.

The Hon Sir C K Chow said the Club through the Charities Trust had been promoting the concept of a low-carbon lifestyle in the community, and through its co-operation with various environmental groups, had launched various innovative projects to encourage people to adopt green living habits. ‘Over the past four years, the Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change has attracted over 250,000 attendees, playing an important role in raising public awareness of environmental protection,’ he noted. ‘The Club will further support the Museum’s development by launching the JC–CUHK Climate Action programme. It is hoped that the number of attendees to the Museum and its mobile version will exceed 180,000 over the next three years, and attract about one million participants of activities organised by JC–CUHK Climate Action.’

The Hon Wong said, ‘Earlier this year, the HKSAR Government announced “Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2030+”, which covers climate actions in three areas, namely mitigation, adaptation and resilience, in response to the Paris Agreement. The objective of climate change mitigating actions is, among others, to reduce Hong Kong’s carbon intensity by 65%–70% compared with the 2005 level, which is equivalent to a reduction of per capita carbon emissions to around 3.3–3.8 tonnes per annum. Hong Kong’s low-carbon transformation requires concerted efforts of the Government, the business sector, schools and the general public to pursue energy conservation, green commuting and waste reduction etc. in daily life, as well as to lead a low-carbon lifestyle in clothing, food, living and travel.’

Also introduced at the ceremony was a newly-launched mobile version of the Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, which is an interactive, multimedia-enhanced ‘mini-museum’, designed to enrich the user’s experience when learning about the impact of climate change. Its first exhibition, ‘Polar Vision’, is being held at D‧Park in Tsuen Wan today and tomorrow (16–17 December) for the public to visit for free. It will also be offered for loan, at no charge, to schools, community centres and NGOs, beginning in January 2018.

In the coming three years, JC–CUHK Climate Action will organise different activities such as large-scale annual carnivals, eco-tours, visits and workshops to disseminate climate change and sustainability messages to a wide spectrum of audiences. It will also nurture the sustainability young leaders by building a platform for connection and information exchange, and providing training to university and secondary school students to promote public awareness of the need for climate action and sustainable development in Hong Kong.

Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change

The Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, was established in December 2013 at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). It is the first museum of its kind in the world, offering an interactive, multimedia exhibition that showcases valuable collections and information about climate change. It is the ideal venue for the public, especially students and teachers, to champion the cause of environmental stewardship and keep themselves abreast of the latest developments on environmental conservation and sustainability. The Museum has attracted over 260,000 visitors since its inception.

In 2017, the Trust further pledged its support for a three-year initiative of the Museum: ‘JC–CUHK Climate Action’. The Museum will, during the next three years, run a variety of environmental education activities to help the people of Hong Kong to better understand the potentially devastating effects of climate change and to suggest innovative solutions and engage themselves in action. 

More details about the Museum can be found at www.mocc.cuhk.edu.hk.