To raise public awareness of the importance of museums, the International Council of Museums designated 18May the annual ‘International Museum Day’. In response to this appeal, the Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is holding ‘JC–CUHK Climate Action’ Green Family Day 2018 today and tomorrow (19–20 May) at the Mira Place 1 in Tsim Sha Tsui to convey knowledge about climate change and green messages to the local community.

The Launch Ceremony for ‘Green Family Day 2018’ and the ‘Action Monitor’ of the JC–CUHK Climate Action was held today (19 May). Officiating at the ceremony were Mr WONG Kam-sing, Secretary for the Environment of the Government of HKSAR, Ms Imelda CHAN, Head of Charities (Grant Making – Elderly, Rehabilitation, Medical, Environment & Family) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Professor Rocky S. TUAN, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, Dr Rebecca LEE, Founder of the Polar Museum Foundation, and Professor FOK Tai-fai, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President of CUHK, and Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change.

Professor Tuan said in his welcome address that the Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change at CUHK was funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust (the Trust) to promote the importance of environmental protection and sustainable development to the public. “Moving closer to this noble goal, the Hong Kong chapter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN Hong Kong), co-hosted by CUHK and the Trust, was launched in January this year,” Professor Tuan said. “I invite the public participating in the event to register for the ‘Action Monitor’ to track and monitor their carbon footprint. Through the wide variety of activities on ‘Green Family Day 2018’, the public will, I believe, have a better understanding of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations and be better prepared to take the necessary action to build a more sustainable world.”

Ms Chan said The Hong Kong Jockey Club had long been working closely with CUHK to promote environmental protection. “To promote further the work of the Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, the Club made an additional donation of over HK$35 million last year to launch the ‘JC–CUHK Climate Action’ programme,” she noted. “Through various community activities, this programme encourages local citizens to adopt a green lifestyle. The launch of ‘Action Monitor’ today will allow people to share environmental tips and information with one another, and set as well as record their personal carbon reduction goals, so that they can contribute to environmental protection by establishing green living habits.”

Mr Wong said, “Early last year, the Government announced the Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2030+ in order to combat climate change. Various sectors in the community and the general public should take proactive climate actions and work together towards low-carbon transformation. Last month, the Government launched the Low Carbon Living Calculator to help the public trace their individual carbon emissions in respect of clothing, food, living and travel in the past year, and assess whether they are ‘Excellent’ in practising a green lifestyle, ‘Just So-So’, or they ‘Need to Catch Up’ or have ‘Major Room for Improvement’. Furthermore, the Low Carbon Living Calculator provides low-carbon living tips to let everyone know how to further reduce carbon emissions.”

The ceremony also marks the official launch of the ‘Action Monitor’, an online tool developed under the ‘JC-CUHK Climate Action’ for self-monitoring one’s green targets and action to encourage the public to take action to combat climate change. Individuals and schools or organisations can participate in the programme by registering as a ‘Green Buddy’ or ‘Green Team’. Annual awards will be presented to participants who actively take part in the programme. For more information, please visit the ‘Action Monitor’ webpage: https://action-monitor.mocc.cuhk.edu.hk/.

The two-day ‘JC–CUHK Climate Action’ Green Family Day 2018 is supported by various schools and organisations, including the Environment Bureau and the Environmental Protection Department of the Government of HKSAR, the Shatin Recycle Centre of the Ma On Shan Youth Association, S.K.H. Li Ping Secondary School, V’air Hong Kong, WWF Hong Kong, and the Mira Place.