Past Event
2024-08-16
Local Conference of Youth Hong Kong 2024 Event Recap
The Local Conference of Youth Hong Kong 2024 was successfully held on the 10th and 11th of August, attracting nearly 200 participants. The event was co-organised by the CarbonCare Innolab (CCIL), Generation Climate Hong Kong (GenC), Hong Kong Youth for Climate Action (HKYCA), and the Network of Environmental Student Societies (NESS), with recognition from YOUNGO, the official youth and children organisation under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Guests at the opening ceremony included Mr. Chong Chan Yau, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of CarbonCare InnoLab; Ir Lau Shing Cheong, Assistant Director/Operation & Maintenance of Drainage Services Department; Mr. Leung Wing Mo, Hong Kong Meteorologist and Former Assistant Director of the Hong Kong Observatory; and Mr. Alfred Chang, Member of the Sub-committee on Youth and Capacity Building under the Council for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development. The event theme for this year was " Beyond 1.5°C: A Climate- Resilient Future for All." The event featured panel discussions, interactive workshops, and guided tours, allowing youth to connect and explore how to collaboratively create a climate-resilient future and strengthen Hong Kong youth's commitment to climate action.
The discussions began with a youth statement by Ms. Carly Leung, Co-founder and Development Director, Climate Incubator, discussing the topic " Beyond 1.5°C: Leave No One Behind in the Climate Emergency," emphasising the importance of climate justice. In subsequent discussions, Ms. Hiu Ching Chan, a member of the Community Climate Resilience Concern Group; Mr. William Chiu, Secretary of Advisory Committee, The Hongkong Bank Foundation; Ir Lau Shing Cheong; Mr. Leung Wing Mo; Ms. Fish Tsoi, Youth and Community Service, Community Partnership Officer at CaritasHK, and representatives from the Kwai Chung Subdivided Flats Association focused on the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities and marginalized groups, calling for societal attention to climate justice issues.
The breakout panel discussions covered various topics including "From individual action to climate advocacy: The Power of Youth-Led Climate Action", presented by Ms. Priscilla Lin, co-founder of Shared Meal; Mr. Timmy Sum Pit Tim, co-founder of Lab0ver & Day Day Waste-Wise; Ms. Wong Nga Yung, founder of Retrovert; Mr. Arthur Yeung, co-founder of V'air Sustainability Education. Furthermore, " In Dialogue with Nature: A Solution for Climate - Resilient Future" were shared by Mr. Billy Cheung, a PhD student from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (member of the Coral Academy); Ms. Rainbow Leung, a PhD student of the Hong Kong university on Seagrass Restoration and Management and co-founder of the Sustainable Ocean Alliance (Hong Kong); Ms. Miffy Ng, Senior Project Manager of Land Education Foundation; and Mr. Andrew Tsui, co-founder of the Rooftop Republic, providing participants with a deeper understanding of how to implement changes in daily life and environmental protection towards a climate-resilient future.
In addition to the discussions on climate resilience and climate solutions, hands-on experiences sharing and interactive workshops included (1)" Urban Disaster Management: Observing, Assessing, and Preparing" hosted by the Hong Kong Red Cross, (2)" AI X Climate Action" hosted by Climate Solutions Lab, (3)" Urban Parks in Action: Rethink, Redesign, Resilience" organised by Healing Parks, (4) " In Dialogue with UN Climate Conference Youth Delegates: Linking Global and Local Climate Action" and (5) " Youth Dialogue: Addressing the Climate Urgency". These interactive sessions not only enhanced participants' practical experience but also fostered their understanding and engagement in climate action, further inspiring their thoughts and actions towards a future climate-resilient society.
In the final segment of the LCOY HK 2024, over 50 young participants gathered to collaboratively draft the "Hong Kong Youth Climate Position Paper 2024," expressing their concerns, calls to action regarding climate change, and specific recommendations and initiatives. This position paper will be submitted to YOUNGO and will become part of the Global Youth Statement 2024 in preparation for COP 29.