Driving the transformation of the CUHK campus into a sustainable and smart campus through infrastructure, policies and engagement to reduce carbon footprint
CUHK was the first local university to pledge to achieve carbon neutrality. To fulfil its commitment, the University has introduced several initiatives designed to promote a responsible culture, including:
- To form a community of CUHK’s students and staff members who are passionate about sustainable development
Energy Conservation Incentive Scheme
- To provide incentive to motivate CUHK units to save electricity in their daily operations and to reduce carbon emissions
Energy Conservation Incentive Scheme for Student Hostels
- To encourage positive behavioural change among student hostel residents and raise awareness throughout the University of the importance of energy consumption and conservation
Energy Efficiency Implementation Fund
- To enhance the energy conservation measures of CUHK offices and make their operations more energy-efficient
- To enhance the electric vehicles (EV) charging facilities on campus
- To embed sustainability within CUHK offices
- To maximize renewable energy generation on campus and generate Feed-in Tariff revenue to support the University’s decarbonization initiatives
- To encourage students and staff to reduce waste and recycle, and embrace climate-positive behaviour that contributes to achieving carbon neutrality
Energy Conservation
CUHK seeks to ensure that all its activities use energy responsibly. The University has developed and implemented a range of policies and initiatives in energy conservation.
Waste Reduction and Recycling
CUHK strives to reduce waste at source and promote a recycling culture. The University launched Plastic-free Campus in 2018 and Waste-free Campus in 2026 to encourage CUHK students, staff members and caterers to work together to go ‘plastic-free’ and ‘waste-free’, and to embrace climate-positive behaviour that contributes to achieving carbon neutrality. The University has also introduced a pioneering food waste pre-treatment system, ‘Food TranSmarter’, to reduce the volume of waste sent to the landfills for disposal.
Water Conservation
CUHK seeks to ensure the sustainable use of water resources. Water conservation measures are built into the university’s daily operations. Clean drinking water is provided free of charge on campus, and is easily accessible.
Sustainable Built Environment
CUHK endeavors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and overall environmental impacts from campus buildings by making greater use of clean energy and achieving, where practicable, the highest green building certifications for all new buildings.
Campus Greening and Wildlife
CUHK’s luxuriant campus is home to over 200 plant species and a variety of fauna. Please visit the Trees and Birds at CUHK webpage to explore the plant species and avifauna on CUHK campus.
Smart Campus
The Smart CUHK Challenge, launched in December 2020, aims to provide an experimentation platform and resources to support students and staff to actively address challenging questions and propose innovative solutions for the development of a smart campus.