56
HKUST 2015-2016
Annual Report
57
C
ampus endeavors steadily moved forward
in 2015-16, with advances in strategic resource
reductions in greenhouse gases and waste,
the launch of the HKUST 2020 Sustainability
Challenge, and further building of students’
environmental project management capabilities.
EMISSIONS AND WASTE REDUCTION
The reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
and landfill waste have been identified as the two
highest sustainability priorities for the University.
At HKUST, over 96% of GHG emissions come from
electricity. During the year under review, GHG
emissions decreased by over 13%. Overall waste was
reduced by 4% while recycling increased by 15%.
In addition, the University made several important
investments in waste reduction strategies, including
installing recycling bins on all floors of residence halls,
modifying cleaning contracts to gain accurate daily
weight data, and conducting waste audits to provide
a clearer picture of sources and causes of waste. With
such information, HKUST is poised to make significant
progress over the next few years.
LIVING LAB
The HKUST 2020 Sustainability Challenge, launched
during the period under review, is a five-year plan
that seeks to develop the University’s Clear Water
Bay campus into a living lab for sustainable practices
HKUST is committed to creating a more eco-friendly campus and taking
a leadership role in motivating the wider community
SUSTAINABILITY
and experiential learning. Areas of focus encompass
education, operations, on-site demonstration projects
that contribute to sustainability and showcase the
work of HKUST researchers, and the engagement of the
HKUST community in an ideas-sharing Sustainability
Network. The long-term vision is to transform the
campus into a carbon-neutral, zero waste and net-
positive environmental impact model for sustainability
education globally.
During the year, participants from across the University
worked together on action plans related to the
Challenge. On the operations side, an Executive
Committee was set up and working groups formed
to develop recommendations relating to high-
performance buildings, green renovation standards,
and green labs. The launch of the Sustainability
Network will assist University members in building
a more vibrant and sustainable campus, including
a Green Team to work on group projects, a Gardening
Club to help beautify the campus, and a Sustainability
Lunch & Learn series for staff to gain the latest
information on best practices.
Separately, through the Shanghai Commercial Bank-
HKUST Sustainable Campus Leadership Program,
students continued to gain hands-on experience
of eco-project management and problem-solving
by designing and undertaking initiatives to improve
the campus environment.
13.2%
Percentage change of
GREENHOUSE GAS (CO
2-e
) from
ELECTRICITY from 59,600 (2014-
2015) to 51,700 (2015-2016)
15%
Percentage change of
RECYCLABLES (TON) from 114
(2014-2015) to 131 (2015-2016)
3.9%
Percentage change of TRASH
(TON) from 2,555 (2014-2015)
to 2,455 (2015-2016)
