Press Release

HKBU international conference gathers global experts and scholars to tackle climate and environmental crisis

Tuesday, 25 November 2025

 

In response to the severe environmental challenges posed by climate change, extreme weather and worsening air pollution, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) hosted its first "International Conference on Atmospheric Environment, Extreme Weather, and Health" on 14 and 15 November. The Conference brought together around 200 leading experts and scholars from around the world to discuss how interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific innovation can be harnessed to tackle climate challenges and safeguard public health. The event also provided an important international platform to foster research exchanges and policy dialogues in the climate, environment and health sectors.

The conference was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre, and the Air-Climate-Health Integrated Study and Exchange Platform of Peking University. At the opening ceremony, officiating guests included Professor Alex Wai, HKBU President and Vice-Chancellor; Dr Zheng Yuanming, Director of the Second Division of the Earth Sciences Department under NSFC; Mr Hsu Hoishan, Director and President of the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre; and Professor Gregory Carmichael from the University of Iowa, Co-Chair of the Advisory Group on the Global Greenhouse Gas Watch and Chair of the Joint Scientific Steering Committee on Environmental Pollution and Atmospheric Chemistry of the Global Atmosphere Watch programme under the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Professor Meng Gao of the Department of Geography under the Academy of Geography, Sociology and International Studies at HKBU, provided an overview of the conference objectives.

In his address, Professor Alex Wai remarked that Hong Kong has experienced a record-breaking year of extreme weather, including unprecedented numbers of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals and Black Rainstorm Warnings, highlighting the importance of cross-regional cooperation and interdisciplinary integration. He reaffirmed HKBU’s commitment to serving as a "science-policy" bridge to promote evidence-based environmental decision-making and collaborative research.

Dr Zheng Yuanming stated that the NSFC places great importance on fundamental research in atmospheric and environmental sciences, noting that basic science plays an irreplaceable role in deepening the understanding of climate-environment-health interaction mechanisms. He emphasised that international collaboration is crucial for driving scientific innovation.

Mr Hsu Hoishan indicated that the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre has always been committed to promoting scientific research collaboration between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He believed that in the face of increasingly severe air pollution and climate risks, it is necessary to strengthen the construction of research networks and policy-relevant studies.

Professor Gregory Carmichael underscored the critical importance of globally coordinated atmospheric observations, advanced modeling techniques, and scientific collaboration in addressing environmental and climate challenges. He also highlighted the significance of integrated global monitoring systems and collaborative scientific frameworks for risk assessment, early warning and policy formulation.

On the same day, the Hong Kong Liaison Office of the scientific journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences (AAS) was officially inaugurated, becoming the journal’s second International Office following the Met Office in the UK. Professor Cao Junji, Editor-in-Chief of AAS and Director of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development) cum Dean of Graduate School at HKBU, officiated at the plaque unveiling ceremony.

Following the opening ceremony, the Conference featured a series of high-level plenary talks delivered by internationally renowned scholars. Experts from institutions including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Duke University, University of Birmingham, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology , Jinan University, Yonsei University, and the Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics shared the latest research findings on cutting-edge topics such as climate-air pollution interactions, atmospheric chemistry, air quality observations and aerosol processes.

In addition, six parallel sessions were held, covering key areas in atmospheric and environmental research, such as the Causes and Mitigation of Air Pollution; Mechanisms and Attribution of Extreme Weather and Climate-related Events; Compound Extreme Events of Weather and Air Pollution; Climate-Chemistry Interactions and Future Projections; Climate Change, Air Pollution, Their Health Impacts; and Urban Climate, Environment, Health, and Resilience. Experts and scholars from around the world shared developments in observational technologies, modelling frameworks, and transdisciplinary approaches that enhance the understanding of environmental risks and support evidence-based mitigation strategies.

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Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor at HKBU (centre); Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development) cum Dean of Graduate School at HKBU (4th right); (from left, 1st to 4th) Professor Jhoon Kim from the Yonsei University and Fellow of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology; Professor Gregory Carmichael from the University of Iowa, Co-Chair of the Advisory Group on the Global Greenhouse Gas Watch and Chair of the Joint Scientific Steering Committee on Environmental Pollution and Atmospheric Chemistry of the Global Atmosphere Watch programme under WMO; Professor Drew Shindell, Nicholas Professor of Earth Science at Duke University and Member of the National Academy of Sciences; Mr Hsu Hoishan, Director and President of the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre; (from left, 7th to 9th) Professor Liu Shawchen from Jinan University and Member of the World Academy of Sciences; Professor Roy Harrison from the University of Birmingham and Fellow of the Royal Society in the UK; and Professor Meng Gao from the Department of Geography under the Academy of Geography, Sociology and International Studies at HKBU.
Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor at HKBU, delivers a speech.
Professor Meng Gao, Professor of the Department of Geography under the Academy of Geography, Sociology and International Studies at HKBU, introduces the distinguished guests and provides an overview of the conference objectives.
Dr Yuanming Zheng, Director of the Second Division of the Earth Sciences Department at the National Natural Science Foundation of China, delivers a speech.
Mr Hsu Hoishan, Director and President of the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre, delivers a speech.
Professor Gregory Carmichael from the University of Iowa, Co-Chair of the Advisory Group on the Global Greenhouse Gas Watch and Chair of the Joint Scientific Steering Committee on Environmental Pollution and Atmospheric Chemistry of the Global Atmosphere Watch programme under WMO, delivers a speech.
Professor Cao Junji, Editor-in-Chief of Advances in Atmospheric Sciences (left), and Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development) cum Dean of Graduate School at HKBU (right), officiate at the plaque unveiling ceremony for the AAS Hong Kong Liaison Office.