CUHK members provide their insights and share their knowledge to support the government’s policy formulation and implementation. Some staff members serve the advisory committees of the government. For example, Professor Emily Chan and Professor Dennis Ng have been appointed members of the Council for Sustainable Development, an initiative established by the HKSAR Chief Executive (Head of the HKSAR Government). In the battle against covid, Professor David Hui serves as an expert for the HKSAR Government’s COVID-19 Expert Advisory Panel, advising the government on pandemic strategies and anti-epidemic measures. Dr Elsie Tsui has been appointed as a co-opted member of Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund Task Force of the HKSAR Government, to formulate strategies and arrangements for driving social innovation and entrepreneurship. CUHK also co-hosts the Hong Kong Chapter of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN Hong Kong), one of the 55 national and regional networks set up in order to mobilize all sectors, including the government, to develop strategies and solutions for sustainable development.

The University promotes the development of science and technology, and has established five state key laboratories to support China’s technological and economic development.  CUHK also participates in the government’s Public Policy Research Funding Scheme and Strategic Public Policy Research Funding Scheme, which are dedicated to fostering and supporting public policy research in Hong Kong.

CUHK co-operates with the government departments, district council and other institutions to participate in the mitigation plan and warning system for climate change. Examples of its work include:

• Research on ‘hot nights’ and improvement on urban planning and building design in HK
• Audit and study on the carrying capacity of Tsuen Wan District
• Research on extreme hot weather, high-density living and senior health in Hong Kong
• Research on the changing impacts of tropical cyclones on east and southeast Asian Inland regions in the past and a globally warmed future climate

CUHK is committed to collaborating with other institutions and NGOs in building a sustainable future in the following areas:

Heath

• ‘Jockey Club Age-friendly City’ in partnership with three local gerontology research institutes
• State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, a national level body established under the Ministry of Science and Technology
• Steering Committee of the Alliance for Healthy Cities, where CUHK is a member of this international committee
• Professor Emily Chan of Collaborating Centre for Oxford University and CUHK for Disaster and Medical Humanitarian Response participated in the World Health Organization (WHO) ad hoc consultation: COVID-19 vaccines – Methodological approaches to assess variants effect on vaccine effects
• ‘Fitness x Mentorship’ Scheme, in collaboration with NGOs, and student volunteers to help vulnerable members to pursue sports
• AR-Home & AR-Centre Rehab Platforms, in collaboration with 7 local rehabilitation centres to design 46 training exercises for stroke survivors
• JC Generation Connect, a programme with three social service groups, to promote intergenerational relationships and well-being
• International Universities Climate Alliance (IUCA), CUHK is one of the members, to develop a framework for assessing and modelling effects on climate-sensitive health

Climate Education

• The Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, CUHK supports the Climate Action Recognition Scheme, initiated by Wofoo Social Enterprises
• Secondary School Coral Nursery Education Programme, in collaboration with the Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department, WWF-Hong Kong and Ocean Park Hong Kong
• Toward Carbon Neutrality: Challenges and Opportunities, co-organized with SDSN Hong Kong, about the latest climatic disasters and disaster risk reduction strategies
• Save the polar bears … only? —Impacts of a Changing Cryosphere, co-organized with SDSN Hong Kong, presenting the latest scientific findings on the changing cryosphere and how the melting in the Polar Regions impedes the achievement of SDG
• ‘Rising Seas, Rising Resilience’ Exhibition, co-organized by with the local think tank CWR to show how Hong Kong would be inundated in the future, providing a timely reminder of why climate change adaptation and resilience building must not be forgotten

SDGs

• SDSN Hong Kong, co-hosted by CUHK and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, one of the 50 national and regional chapters of the UN network, aims to mobilize universities, research and knowledge centres, NGOs, and businesses to develop policies, strategies and solutions for the advancement of the SDGs
• Climate Resilience in Hong Kong, a webinar co-organized by CUHK, SDSN Hong Kong and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, as a part of the worldwide campaign Solve Climate by 2030. The webinar features speakers from the government, the power company and the NGO, to explore what they can do to foster climate resilience in the city’s development
• SDG Forum Series 2021–22: The Sound of Trees − Urban Forestry and Sustainable Development, a talk co-organized by the SDSN Hong Kong and CUHK’s Office of University General Education
• Sustainability Conference & BSI Recognition Ceremony 2021 co-organized by the Centre for Business Sustainability, CUHK and the Consumer Council to present the latest trends in consumers’ awareness and behaviour towards sustainable consumption
• Global Partnership for Sustainable Development : CUHK, The University of Queensland and University of Exeter organised a Joint Symposium on Environmental Sustainability
• Five projects funded by the CUHK-University of Exeter Joint Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Resilience (ENSURE) in 2019−2023 in various fields and which engaged 30 researchers from both universities
• Hong Kong Homelessness Census 2021 conducted by The Yunus Social Business Centre@CUHK and NGOs, with the aim of addressing the problems and situations of the homeless during the covid-19 pandemic made recommendations to improve the livelihood of the homelessness.
• The Urban Thinkers Campus 7.0, partnered with the Hong Kong Institute of Architects and the Hong Kong Institute of Planners to invite young stakeholders to share their views in response to the Hong Kong government’s announcement on the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy and the final report of “Hong Kong 2030+”.