Students from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) were invited to join the Climate Change Stakeholder Engagement Forum, organised by the Environment Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government. They shared their experience collaborating with sustainable development partners and how they performed their voluntary work as Green Ambassadors in the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens (R7).

The Forum was hosted by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, with the objective of gauging the views of stakeholders on combating climate change and fostering collaboration among different stakeholders. The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, addressed the forum.

CityU’s student representatives, Alaric Hui Shun-yuen, Cheung Wing-chi and Ho Ka-cheong from the Department of Public Policy, said they had collaborated with the Environmental Protection Department, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Hong Kong Rugby Union this year. They redesigned plastic recycling bins for collection of plastic waste in the R7, and they studied how the new bins affected the recycling awareness of the audience and the effectiveness of the bins.

They worked together with more than 30 Green Ambassadors to execute an on-site waste audit for the R7. To understand the audience’s knowledge, mindset and behaviour in relation to waste collection and to let more people know about their green project, the CityU students conducted a survey of the spectators.

The students thanked CityU and relevant organisations for providing support and opportunities for them to apply their knowledge. Through their participation in this major Hong Kong sports event, they were able to understand more effectively the public’s awareness of environmental protection and waste reduction.