News & Stories

How will our collective future take shape? Our students may have the answer. To empower global citizens to build a safer, more resilient world, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) joins hands with Stanford University as a founding partner to launch the Global Sustainability Challenge.This competition represents a powerful collaboration between sustainability and education experts.  By pooling experience and expertise, the competition was shaped by founding partners from prestigious institutions as founding universities, such as Imperial College London, Zhejiang University, Technical University of Munich, and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) selected eight cutting-edge projects for the latest round of Sustainable Smart Campus as a Living Lab program for testing on campus. Covering a wide range of sustainability challenges on campus, the projects address energy efficiency, renewable energy optimization, water management, wellness, ecosystem enhancement, and predictive maintenance strategies, providing students and faculty with hands-on experience with prototypes before real-world implementation.

In the vibrant halls of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Dr. Meike SAUERWEIN, Lecturer of the Division of Environment and Sustainability, is igniting a quiet revolution. Her course, ENVR 1080: The Smart Consumer – Uncovering the Hidden Story Behind the Product Label, is far more than a typical sustainability course—it is an eye-opening experience that makes students rethink their everyday purchases and their ripple effects on the environment and society.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today inaugurated the Otto Poon Center for Climate Resilience and Sustainability (CCRS), a transformative initiative designed to accelerate research, innovation and policy solutions in climate resilience and sustainable development. Established through the generous support of Ir Dr. Otto POON, Founder of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation, the Center unites HKUST’s world-class expertise in climate science, advanced modeling systems, artificial intelligence (AI), renewable energy and sustainable policy to deliver scalable and actionable strategies for governments, industries, and communities worldwide.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (“HKUST”) has partnered with Esquel Enterprises Limited (“Esquel Group”) to launch a five-year study program that allows HKUST students to conduct biannual field research at the textile manufacturer’s 500,000-square-meter Sustainable Development Garden Integral, recognized as one of China’s top 20 sustainable development projects by the United Nations.  Guided by HKUST faculty, students will visit the garden twice a year in groups to assess and make recommendations regarding its sustainability impact on environmental monitoring and biodiversity conservation.  This initiative marks another academic-industry collaboration aimed at accelerating the Greater Bay Area’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today announces its Net-Zero Action Plan (Action Plan), which is the first among higher education institutions in Hong Kong to have a comprehensive framework with multi-pronged strategies aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2045. This plan is supported by a commitment of HK$30 million earned from renewable energy generation to further accelerate research and adoption of innovative decarbonization solutions on campus.

(Originally written and published by Times Higher Education) The era of smart cities requires practical innovations at scale to maximise the quality of living and create a sustainable model for 21st-century urbanisation Urbanisation is one of the trends shaping Asia in the 21st century. The United Nations forecasts that Asia’s urban population will grow by 50 per cent by 2050. This requires 21st-century responses from policymakers, industry and higher education to manage this growth and create liveable, sustainable cities for its populations. 

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is investing up to HK$40 million to upgrade 30% of its total parking space with charging capability and related software support for electric vehicles (EV).  The initiative aims to cultivate a sustainable commuting habit and supports emission reduction goals in the HKUST 2028 Sustainability Challenge.HKUST is set to become the most EV-friendly university in Hong Kong with the completion of the EV charging infrastructure enhancement project, which will see approximately 360 parking spaces on campus fitted with medium EV chargers, providing an output power of no less than 7kW. The initiative not only supports the HKSAR Government's Roadmap on Popularization of EVs, but also accelerates opportunities to reduce emissions from University-owned vehicles and indirect emissions from commuting.