October 9, 2022
Hang Seng and CarbonCare InnoLab bring local youth
Together Ahead of COP27 to discuss actions
Meeting the challenge of climate change
Nearly 100 international and local young people gathered this weekend (8-9 October 2022) to discuss climate change at the Local Youth Conference Hong Kong 2022 (‘LCOY HK 2022’), sponsored by Hang Seng and organized by CarbonCare InnoLab (‘CCIL’).
This is the third time that CCIL has organized a LOCY event, which aims to provide a platform for young people to exchange ideas and information on actions to combat climate change.
The theme of this year’s LCOY HK was “Keeping 1.5℃ Alive”. Participants were invited to share views and information on climate justice and adaptation. 27e Young delegates from the Conference of the Parties (“COP27”) facilitated a position paper writing workshop, with the resulting papers to be documented and submitted to UN YOUNGO as part of the global youth climate position at COP27.
Climate education activities during the two-day LCOY 2022 included workshops, climate-themed games, solar panel tours, human library sessions, panel discussions and seminars.
Ms. Diane Wong, Undersecretary for Environment and Ecology; Mr. Chong Chanyau, co-founder and CEO of CCIL; Ms. Natalie Chung, young environmentalist and member of the Council for Sustainable Development and the evaluation committee of the Green Tech Fund of the Hong Kong SAR; and Mrs. Betty Law, Head of Communications and Corporate Sustainability at Hang Seng Bank, attended the opening ceremony yesterday.
Mr Chong Chan-yau said: “We are witnessing unprecedented floods in Pakistan and droughts in the Horn of Africa, causing millions of people to suffer. Many regions that have contributed the least to the climate crisis suffer the most from the devastating effects. Hong Kong is a prosperous city and should take more action to help fight climate change. CCIL will inspire young people in Hong Kong to become good global citizens who are passionate about doing a positive difference.
Hang Seng and CarbonCare InnoLab bring local youth together ahead of COP27 to discuss actions to take to tackle the challenge of climate change / 2
Ms. Carly Leung, one of the youth delegates at COP27, said: “We are seeing an escalation in the devastating effects of global climate crisis. LCOY HK 2022 is a fantastic opportunity for young people to actively participate in the fight against climate change. We can share our views, exchange knowledge and acquire the skills needed to initiate climate action. We can all be valuable contributors to this mission and bring the voices, opinions and concerns of young people into international climate conversations.”
LCOY HK 2022 is the only youth exchange platform in Hong Kong accredited by UN YOUNGO, the official youth constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Other co-organizers include Hong Kong Youth for Climate Action, Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, Network of Environmental Student Societies and V’air Hong Kong. Support organization Breakthrough Youth Village provided the venue for the event.
# END #
Photo captions
Picture 1
Ms. Carly Leung, one of the COP27 youth delegates in Hong Kong, met with local young people to discuss ideas for local, regional and international action to tackle climate change.
Hang Seng and CarbonCare InnoLab bring local youth together ahead of COP27 to discuss actions to take to tackle the challenge of climate change / 3
Picture 2
(Left to right) Ms. Betty Law, Head of Communications and Sustainability, Hang Seng Bank; Ms. Diane Wong, Undersecretary for Environment and Ecology; Mr. Chong Chan-yau, Co-Founder and CEO, CarbonCare InnoLab; and Ms. Natalie Chung, Member of the Hong Kong SAR Green Tech Fund Sustainable Development Council and Evaluation Committee, officiated at the opening ceremony of LCOY HK 2022.
Picture 3
Guest speakers at the Human Library session, including Mr. Frank Heung, Head of Structured Finance, Commercial Real Estate and Business Advisory at Hang Seng Bank, shared information and insights with young participants on topics related to careers in sustainable development and the training of future talents.
Hang Seng and CarbonCare InnoLab bring local youth together ahead of COP27 to discuss actions to take to tackle the challenge of climate change / 4
About CarbonCare InnoLab
Founded in 2014, CarbonCare InnoLab (‘CCIL’) is an NGO dedicated to nurturing communities of young people and students in Hong Kong and encouraging them to help mitigate climate change and develop sustainable low-emission lifestyles carbon through innovation, education and action. Our mission is to foster innovation that is both relevant to local needs and helps solve global challenges. This includes climate justice, reducing carbon emissions, resource conservation and actions that will contribute to adaptation and building resilience. We place particular emphasis on multi-stakeholder engagement and solution-focused processes, as well as community outreach. CCIL is a registered Section 88 charity based in Hong Kong.
About Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability
As a local financial institution, Hang Seng Bank shares the drive, determination and dreams of Hong Kong people and strives to help build a prosperous and sustainable future for the city. Young people are the key to sustainability. Involving them and providing them with development tools is crucial for their success. That’s why a key part of Hang Seng’s approach to sustainability is to equip Hong Kong’s youth with the skills, knowledge and self-esteem that will enable them to thrive. Hang Seng is also committed to society at large and has identified four pillars in its community investment program: equipping young people with future skills for employability, improving their financial literacy and promoting sustainable finance, addressing concerns about climate change and caring for the community. In 2021, Hang Seng has invested over HK$31 million in community development in Hong Kong, bringing its total contribution over the past decade to around HK$289 million.
