HKUST ESG report 2022-23: Celebrating Progress and Inspiring Action
Building on our recent success in sustainability leadership having ranked the world’s 36th, as well as the first in Hong Kong and Mainland China in our debut appearance in Times Higher Education (THE)’s Impact Rankings, we are excited to present the 2022-23 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report for HKUST.
HKUST is committed to becoming a net-zero carbon university by 2045, if not earlier, by taking the lead on developing solutions that demonstrate our dedication to creating a true net-zero world.
As the campus gradually returns to its pre-pandemic state following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and as we embark on numerous new developments, our determination to achieving our 2028 sustainability challenges has taken on unprecedented importance. This report represents a snapshot of where we stand today in our work towards creating a sustainable campus of the future. This Report highlights our performance towards our intermediate goals as articulated in the HKUST 2028 Sustainability Challenge, and brings to life some of the extraordinary efforts of members of our community.
Here are some key highlights from the report:
Energy & GHG (Greenhouse Gas):
Demonstrated significant embodied carbon reduction through piloting the use of green concrete and recycled reinforcement bars for Martin Ka Shing Lee Innovation Building to achieve embodied carbon intensity of less than 500 kg CO₂-e/m² for superstructure.
Water:
Our commitment to water conservation led us to design a system that reuses the bleed-off water from the Library cooling tower. This system enables the annual reuse of 2,140m³ of water for flushing, contributing to our sustainable water management efforts.
Waste to the Landfill:
In our ongoing efforts to reduce waste, we launched a phase II pilot program introducing plant fibre-made takeaway containers across five campus restaurants for two months. Through the government’s organic waste treatment facility, the pilot program successfully recycled 832 lunchboxes and 657 cups.
Landscape & Biodiversity:
To celebrate and preserve the biodiversity of our campus, we introduced the HKUST Biodiversity Map. This interactive map marked over 187 individuals of different species, including butterflies, birds, coastal marine species, and trees within our campus boundaries.
Community Well-Being:
We value the well-being of our community and have introduced a special leave provision for our staff. This provision allows them to actively participate in volunteering, wellness, and diversity and equal opportunities initiatives, contributing to a vibrant and inclusive community.
Governance:
We organized the Climate Adaption & Resilience Conference (CARE) with the support of four Bureaux and nine Government Departments. The conference brought together over 1,000 online and in-person participants, furthering our commitment to addressing climate change and building resilience.
Education:
Through our Sustainable Smart Campus as a Living Lab initiative, we funded five projects with a total of three million HKD. We also received 25 campus project solutions from our talented students, fostering innovation and sustainability across various aspects of campus life.
We recognize that this story is only half-written, but we are pleased to share what we have accomplished so far. We aspire to be a bridge that unites knowledge with action, and hope that bridge will take us to a future where sustainability is not an aspiration, but a reality.
To explore the full HKUST ESG report 2022-23 and delve deeper into our sustainability journey, please visit here.
