Bulletin No. 1, 2016

22 Chinese University Bulletin No. 1, 2016 No Effort T oo Small, No Effort to Spare W e do not underestimate the enormity of the problem posed by climate change today. Neither do we overestimate what we will be able to do or achieve, individually or collectively, in the near or immediate future. But no effort is too small, and no effort, however small, will be spared. After all, the target of COP21 is two diminutive degrees on the Celsius scale but the estimated cost for achieving that is a staggering 12 trillion US dollars over the next 25 years. What we have seen in the previous pages concerning the thawing of permafrost, food security and waste, renewable energy, urban tempe rature and ventilation , health and hygiene, etc., are by no means the only studies and actions undertaken by CUHK members. Many other faculty members, students, alumni, institutes, collaborations and initiatives have directly or indirectly devoted their lives or work to address climate change, the bane of 21st century existence. With or without the accord reached in Paris and signed in New York, the Chinese University, as if ingrained in its mentality and identity, has and will always carry on its mission of sustaining and bettering the conditions of humanity. We just saw a glimpse of what a modern university can and should be doing about climate change.