Our Approach to Sustainable Development

CUHK takes a holistic and strategic approach for integrating sustainability into our future developments and daily operation. This approach is largely defined by:

1. The Campus Master Plan (CMP)

The CMP provides the guiding framework, founded on the principles of sustainable development, to align decision-making and chart the course of campus development and conservation up to 2021. Six vital and interdependent planning precepts were defined in CMP to guide the campus development:

Planning and Design of places for education and research activities, that accommodate the projected future needs of the University
Enhancing college life, by enabling the formation of distinct college neighbourhoods, and enhancing communication and sharing of amenity facilities
Promoting a pedestrian-friendly campus, with improved connectivity that prioritises walking, minimises reliance on vehicles and optimises campus transport facilities
Conserving places of value, enhancing the green environment of the campus while conserving places with unique value
Creating a landscape of vital importance, creating a network of open spaces that relate directly with existing and proposed university buildings
Making a sustainable campus, with reduced dependence on the earth's natural resources and a reduction in per capita greenhouse gas emissions

Read more about The Campus Master Plan (Website, Executive Summary; Full Version )

2. Charters, Declarations and Programmes

3. Strategic Partnership

The University has formed various partnerships with local universities, and bodies from different disciplines and territories to promote sustainable development, including:

Officiating at the launch ceremony of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Hong Kong are The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (2nd left); Director of the UN SDSN Professor Jeffrey Sachs (2nd right); Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Mr Anthony W K Chow (1st left), and Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK Professor Rocky S Tuan (1st right)

SDSN Hong Kong

CUHK and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust have joined hands to co-host the Hong Kong chapter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). SDSN Hong Kong seeks to mobilize expertise, information and resources from different sectors to address the most pressing environmental, social and economic issues in Hong Kong and advance sustainable development.

Since its inception in early 2018, SDSN Hong Kong has led, supported and participated in a wide range of activities that address some of these challenges in sustainable development and support the implementation of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals in Hong Kong and beyond. The network intends to identify various means of collaboration with local and international experts in sustainable development, including researchers, social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, technological experts, government officials and key opinion leaders, in order to pursue sustainability solutions.

Contact the SDSN Hong Kong – CUHK Secretariat

The Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change offers a pioneering interactive and multimedia exhibition which showcases valuable collections and provides information about climate change

Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change

Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change (MoCC), funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, was established in December 2013 at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. In addition to its exhibition, the Museum runs a variety of environmental education activities, including environment fairs, eco-tours, and sustainability workshops and talks, to help the people of Hong Kong to better understand the potentially devastating effects of climate change and to encourage them to suggest innovative solutions and take a more active role in protecting the environment. It also recruits student ambassadors and trains young green leaders to advocate climate action in Hong Kong.

Take MoCC's panoramic virtual tour online

Establishment of the Hong Kong Sustainable Campus Consortium

Hong Kong Declaration and Hong Kong Sustainable Campus Consortium

Along with seven other publicly-funded universities in Hong Kong, CUHK is a signatory of the 'Hong Kong Declaration', and has pledged its commitment to respond to the challenges posed by climate change and sustainable development and to meet targets for the reduction of energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, water use and waste.

The Hong Kong Sustainable Campus Consortium, a platform established by the eight signatories of the 'Hong Kong Declaration' in 2010, encourages the exchange of ideas, the sharing of best practice and the reporting of progress, so as to advance the sustainable development of the tertiary education sector in Hong Kong.

Participating staff and students in the Green Competition Camp under the Cross-Strait Green University Consortium in 2017

The Cross-Strait Green University Consortium

The Cross-Strait Green University Consortium was established in May 2011 as a platform for consolidating resources from member universities to drive initiatives that incorporate green concepts into research and education. Its member universities are CUHK, Nanjing University, National Central University, Beijing Normal University, National Cheng Kung University and Zhejiang University.

Press release

CUHK – University of Exeter Joint Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Resilience (ENSURE)

CUHK and the University of Exeter established the 'CUHK – University of Exeter Joint Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Resilience (ENSURE)' in June 2018. ENSURE embarks on large, impactful interdisciplinary collaborations to tackle emerging issues related to a changing environment and human health and wellbeing, and serves as a platform for international academic exchange, promoting policy related works, and nurturing the next generation of young researchers to address sustainable development challenges.

Press release

4. Membership

The University is also members of different local and international networks, including:

1. The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)

AASHE is an an association of over 900 higher education institutions, non-profits, and businesses around the world working toward a common goal of human and ecological health, social justice, secure livelihoods, and a better world for all generations.

For CUHK students and staff:

Access to member-only resources in AASHE's Campus Sustainability Hub
Enjoyment of special discount for AASHE's events
Access to resources from Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS) and Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC)

To create an account:

Visit the registration page
Register using your campus email address ending with 'cuhk.edu.hk'
Choose 'The Chinese University of Hong Kong' (ID:6248) as the affiliated organisation

2. Business Environment Council (BEC) – Affiliate Member

BEC is an independent, charitable membership organization that offers sustainable solutions and professional services covering advisory, research, assessment, training and award programmes for government, business and the community, thus enabling environmental protection and contributing to the transition to a low carbon economy.

For CUHK students and staff:

Enjoyment of member discounts for BEC's conferences, lecture series, visits and networking events

3. Hong Kong Green Building Council – Institutional Member

The Hong Kong Green Building Council Limited (HKGBC) is a non-profit, member-led organization. HKGBC strives to promote the standards and developments of sustainable buildings in Hong Kong. HKGBC also aims to raise green building awareness by engaging the public, the industry and the government, and to develop practical solutions for Hong Kong's unique, subtropical built environment of high-rise, high density urban area, leading Hong Kong to become a world's exemplar of green building development.

For CUHK students and staff:

Enjoyment of exclusive discounts for HKGBC's conferences, seminars, trainings and award ceremony

4. International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN)

ISCN's mission is to provide an international forum to support higher education institutions in the exchange of information, ideas, and best practices for achieving sustainable campus operations and integrating sustainability in research and teaching.