Draft Program

Last updated: 16 Jul 2026

Day 1 –– Theme: Early Warning, Climate Science & Urban Futures

8 Oct 2026 (Thur)

Lam Woo Lecture Theater (LT-B)
HKUST

Introduction

A high-level, single-track plenary that brings together government leaders, scientists, policymakers, financiers, and practitioners onto a shared foundation of evidence and understanding. All participants engage with the same scientific insights, risk frameworks, and policy perspectives, creating a common basis for the discussions and decisions that follow.

The day moves from global climate science and early warning systems to regional and urban risk, and then to Hong Kong-specific responses across infrastructure, biodiversity, and finance.

Program

PROGRAM
08:30 - 09:00 \| Registration
DAY 1 AM – Global Science, Risk & Regional Context
09:15 - 09:55 \| Opening Session Opening Remarks Mr. Chin-wan TSE, Secretary for Environment and Ecology Welcome Remarks Prof. Celeste SAULO, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization Early Warning for Children Mrs. Martha KESWICK, Creator, COPE Disaster Champions
09:55 - 10:15 \| Plenary I: Climate Science & Early Warning Systems Plausible Future Warming Pathways and China’s Climate Actions Prof. Xiaoye ZHANG, Academician, Chinese Academy of Engineering; China Meteorological Administration
10:15 - 10:50 \| Plenary II: Translating Climate Risk into Urban Contexts Global Perspectives on Climate Risk and Vulnerability (video) Mr. Jagan CHAPAGAIN, Secretary General, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Urban-PREDICT: Advancing Urban Climate Science Dr. Estelle De CONING, Chief of the Weather and Societal Impact Research Section at WMO Co-Chairs, WMO Urban-PREDICT Initiative: Prof. Fei CHEN, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology & Prof. Soledad Garcia FERRARI, University of Edinburgh
10:50- 11:00 \| Plenary III: Regional Perspectives Guangdong and the Greater Bay Area Dr. Yamin HU, Deputy Director of the Guangdong Climate Center, Guangdong Meteorological Bureau
11:00 - 11:20 \| Break
11:20 – 11:25 \| Interdisciplinary Insights: Science in Action (Video Showcase) A curated showcase of HKUST research demonstrating how science translates into practical solutions across climate modelling, infrastructure resilience, air quality, ocean systems, satellite observation, and AI-enabled applications. 11:25 – 12:30 \| High-Level Panel Building Climate-Resilient Infrastructure in Hong Kong This panel brings together senior officials responsible for planning, engineering, and risk management to examine how Hong Kong is strengthening infrastructure resilience in the face of intensifying climate risks. Moderator: Prof. Chi-ming SHUN, Adjunct Professor, Division of Environment and Sustainability, HKUST Panellists: Mr. Clement CHEUNG,, Chief Executive Officer, Insurance Authority Ir. Michael FONG, Director, Civil Engineering and Development Department, HKSAR Government Ir. Ricky LAU,, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Development Bureau, HKSAR Government Ir. Ringo MOK, Director, Drainage Services Department, HKSAR Government. Mr. Peter LEE, Chief Sustainability Officer, Airport Authority Hong Kong
12:30 - 14:30 \| Lunch
DAY 1 PM– Policy, Nature & Finance
14:30 - 14:50 \| Keynote Presentation Housing, Adaptation and Urban Wellbeing Ms. Winnie Wing-yin HO , Secretary for Housing, Housing Bureau, HKSAR Government
14:50 – 15:40 \| Plenary IV: High-Level Panel Biodiversity, Nature-Based Solutions & Urban Resilience This session explores how biodiversity and nature-based solutions can be integrated into urban development to enhance resilience, improve environmental quality, and deliver long-term social and economic benefits. Moderator: Dr. Siu Fai LEUNG, Adjunct Professor, Division of Environment and Sustainability, HKUST Panellists: Dr. Samuel CHUI, Director, Environmental Protection Department, HKSAR Government Mr. Mickey LAI, Director, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, HKSAR Government Dr. Tim LI, Chief Architect, Hong Kong Housing Authority, HKSAR Government Mr. Stephen SUEN, Director, Nature-Based Solutions Lead Sustainability Task Force, AECOM
15:40 – 16:30 \| Plenary V: From Science to Finance Pricing Risk, Funding Resilience This session brings together leaders from science, finance, and policy to examine how climate risk is translated into investment decisions. It explores how data and modelling inform risk assessment, how financial institutions respond, and how capital can be mobilised to support resilient infrastructure and nature-based solutions. Moderator: Prof. Christine LOH, Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment, HKUST Panellists: Dr. Erik BERGLOF, Chief Economist, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Prof. Yongjiu DAI, Academician, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Sun Yat-sen University Mr. Peter DAN, Chief Risk Officer, The Bank of East Asia (China) Limited Mr. Ronald YOUNG, Head of Sustainability Banking Development, Hong Kong Monetary Authority Mr. Bien WONG, Assistant General Manager – Group ESG cum Executive – Group Knowledge Management Office, The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
16:30 - 16:40 \| Closing Reflections A short synthesis drawing together key insights to set the stage for deeper discussions on implementation in Day 2.

PROGRAM

08:30 - 09:00 | Registration

DAY 1 AM – Global Science, Risk & Regional Context

09:15 - 09:55 | Opening Session

Opening Remarks
Mr. Chin-wan TSE, Secretary for Environment and Ecology
Welcome Remarks
Prof. Celeste SAULO, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization
Early Warning for Children
Mrs. Martha KESWICK, Creator, COPE Disaster Champions

09:55 - 10:15 | Plenary I: Climate Science & Early Warning Systems

Plausible Future Warming Pathways and China’s Climate Actions
Prof. Xiaoye ZHANG, Academician, Chinese Academy of Engineering; China Meteorological Administration

10:15 - 10:50 | Plenary II: Translating Climate Risk into Urban Contexts

Global Perspectives on Climate Risk and Vulnerability (video)
Mr. Jagan CHAPAGAIN, Secretary General, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Urban-PREDICT: Advancing Urban Climate Science
Dr. Estelle De CONING, Chief of the Weather and Societal Impact Research Section at WMO
Co-Chairs, WMO Urban-PREDICT Initiative: Prof. Fei CHEN, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology & Prof. Soledad Garcia FERRARI, University of Edinburgh

10:50- 11:00 | Plenary III: Regional Perspectives

Guangdong and the Greater Bay Area
Dr. Yamin HU, Deputy Director of the Guangdong Climate Center, Guangdong Meteorological Bureau

11:00 - 11:20 | Break

11:20 – 11:25 | Interdisciplinary Insights: Science in Action (Video Showcase)

A curated showcase of HKUST research demonstrating how science translates into practical solutions across climate modelling, infrastructure resilience, air quality, ocean systems, satellite observation, and AI-enabled applications.

11:25 – 12:30 | High-Level Panel

Building Climate-Resilient Infrastructure in Hong Kong
This panel brings together senior officials responsible for planning, engineering, and risk management to examine how Hong Kong is strengthening infrastructure resilience in the face of intensifying climate risks.

Moderator:

Prof. Chi-ming SHUN, Adjunct Professor, Division of Environment and Sustainability, HKUST

Panellists:

Mr. Clement CHEUNG,, Chief Executive Officer, Insurance Authority
Ir. Michael FONG, Director, Civil Engineering and Development Department, HKSAR Government
Ir. Ricky LAU,, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Development Bureau, HKSAR Government
Ir. Ringo MOK, Director, Drainage Services Department, HKSAR Government.
Mr. Peter LEE, Chief Sustainability Officer, Airport Authority Hong Kong

12:30 - 14:30 | Lunch

DAY 1 PM– Policy, Nature & Finance

14:30 - 14:50 | Keynote Presentation

Housing, Adaptation and Urban Wellbeing
Ms. Winnie Wing-yin HO , Secretary for Housing, Housing Bureau, HKSAR Government

14:50 – 15:40 | Plenary IV: High-Level Panel

Biodiversity, Nature-Based Solutions & Urban Resilience
This session explores how biodiversity and nature-based solutions can be integrated into urban development to enhance resilience, improve environmental quality, and deliver long-term social and economic benefits.

Moderator:

Dr. Siu Fai LEUNG, Adjunct Professor, Division of Environment and Sustainability, HKUST

Panellists:

Dr. Samuel CHUI, Director, Environmental Protection Department, HKSAR Government
Mr. Mickey LAI, Director, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, HKSAR Government
Dr. Tim LI, Chief Architect, Hong Kong Housing Authority, HKSAR Government
Mr. Stephen SUEN, Director, Nature-Based Solutions Lead Sustainability Task Force, AECOM

15:40 – 16:30 | Plenary V: From Science to Finance

Pricing Risk, Funding Resilience
This session brings together leaders from science, finance, and policy to examine how climate risk is translated into investment decisions. It explores how data and modelling inform risk assessment, how financial institutions respond, and how capital can be mobilised to support resilient infrastructure and nature-based solutions.

Moderator:

Prof. Christine LOH, Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment, HKUST

Panellists:

Dr. Erik BERGLOF, Chief Economist, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
Prof. Yongjiu DAI, Academician, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Sun Yat-sen University
Mr. Peter DAN, Chief Risk Officer, The Bank of East Asia (China) Limited
Mr. Ronald YOUNG, Head of Sustainability Banking Development, Hong Kong Monetary Authority
Mr. Bien WONG, Assistant General Manager – Group ESG cum Executive – Group Knowledge Management Office, The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited

16:30 - 16:40 | Closing Reflections

A short synthesis drawing together key insights to set the stage for deeper discussions on implementation in Day 2.

Day 2 –– Theme: From Climate Signals to System Stress: Hazards, Impacts & Choices

9 Oct 2026 (Fri)

Lam Woo Lecture Theater (LT-B)
HKUST

Introduction

Day 2 examines how climate risks move from physical signals to system-wide stress, affecting infrastructure, economies, and daily life. The programme focuses on two types of risk:

Episodic shocks – such as extreme rainfall, flooding, sea-level rise, and landslides; and
Chronic stresses – such as heat, humidity, and air quality.

Across the day, the discussion moves from hazards to impacts, and from impacts to choices, including how cities plan, invest, and manage trade-offs under growing uncertainty.

Program

PROGRAM
DAY 2 AM - Episodic Risk: Water, Failure & Response
09:15 - 09:30 \| Coming Back Together
09:30 - 10:45 \| Plenary I: Integrated Water-Related Climate Risks Cascading Impacts in Urban Systems This session makes visible how extreme rainfall, flooding, sea-level rise, and landslides interact to overwhelm urban systems, triggering cascading failures across infrastructure, services, and communities. Scene-Setting Presentation (09:30 – 09:50) Prof. Christopher FREY, Associate Dean for Research and Infrastructure, College of Engineering, North Carolina State University Key themes include: Extreme rainfall and storm intensification in tropical and sub-tropical regions Flooding, drainage exceedance, and surface water impacts Sea-level rise and coastal exposure Landslides and slope instability in dense, hilly cities Cascading failures across energy, transport, and essential services Panel Discussion Moderator: Prof. Christopher FREY, Associate Dean for Research and Infrastructure, College of Engineering, North Carolina State University Panellists: Ir. Dr. Raymond CHEUNG, Head of Geotechnical Engineering Office, HKSAR Government Prof. Ju Neng LIEW, Head of Centre for Tropical Climate Change System (IKLIM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia Ms. Sandy SONG, Assistant Director (Development, Research and Administration), Hong Kong Observatory, HKSAR Government Mr. Eddie TSE, Gammon Construction Limited, Hong Kong Ms. Esther YUEN, Chief Engineer/Land Drainage, Drainage Services Department, HKSAR Government
10:45 - 11:00 \| Break
11:00 - 12:15 \| Plenary II: Integrated Chronic Climate Risks Heat, Humidity & Air Quality This session examines a class of climate risk that is less visible but more persistent. Heat, humidity, and poor air quality place continuous stress on health systems, labour productivity, energy demand, housing quality, and urban liveability, often without triggering emergency responses until systems begin to fail. Scene-Setting Presentation Prof. Ollie JAY, Director, Heat and Health Research Centre, University of Sydney, Australia Key themes include: Rising temperatures, urban heat island effects, and uneven exposure Interactions between heat, humidity, and air quality Impacts on health, labour productivity, and outdoor activity Cooling demand and energy system stress Why chronic risks rarely trigger “emergency mode” Panel Discussion Moderator: Prof. Ollie JAY, Director, Heat and Health Research Centre, University of Sydney, Australia Panellists: Prof. Alexis LAU, Head and Chair Professor, Division of Environment and Sustainability, HKUST Prof. Thanh NGO-DUC, Co-Director of the LOTUS International Joint Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of Hanoi, Vietnam Prof. Jerasorn SANTISIRISOMBOONS, Assistant Professor, RU-CORE, Ramkhamhaeng University, Thailand Prof. Chao REN, Professor, Faculty of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong
12:15 - 14:00 \| Lunch
DAY 2 PM - Trade-offs, Finance & Decision-Making
14:00 - 15:30 \| Plenary III: From Risk to Cost Who Pays, When, and for What? Financing Climate Resilience in a World of Limits As climate risks shift from episodic shocks to chronic system stress, societies face difficult decisions about when to invest, what to prioritise, and how costs and risks are shared. Not all risks can be insured, not all infrastructure can be protected, and not all adaptation can be delayed. This session examines how financial systems respond and where they fall short. Scene-Setting Presentation From Risk to Cost: Translating Climate Impacts into Economic Reality Ms. Paula DiPerna, Author of Pricing the Priceless; former President-International, Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) Key questions include: Why are sea-level rise and chronic risks harder to price than episodic disasters? How does delayed investment increase long-term costs? Does traditional cost-benefit logic break down under climate uncertainty? High-Level Panel Discussion Moderator: Prof. Christine Loh, Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment, HKUST Panellists: Ms. Paula DiPerna, Author of Pricing the Priceless; former President-International, Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) Mr. Martin NOBLE, Chief Financial Officer, Zurich Insurance (Hong Kong)
15:30 - 16:00 \| Closing Reflections From Hazards to Choices A short synthesis highlighting: The shift from extreme events to system stress The growing importance of governance and finance The implications for cities facing accelerating climate risks and solutions for cities in tropical and sub-tropical climates

Day 3 –– Theme: Forum on Scaling Nature‑based Solutions in Hong Kong Research Needs and Stakeholder Perspectives 10 Oct 2026 (Sat)

Lam Woo Lecture Theater (LT-B)
HKUST

Introduction

The forum will convene scholars and stakeholders to co‑define priority research areas required to scale Nature based Solutions (NbS) in Hong Kong. It is designed to be participatory, practical, and outcome oriented, rather than presentation heavy. The forum will be structured around two thematic subsections, NbS Implementation and Nature Financing Frameworks.

A curated research exhibition runs in parallel, strengthening intergenerational exchange and supporting future joint research, data-sharing, and grant pathways.

Program

Please note that photography and videography will be conducted throughout the CLIMATE ADAPTATION & RESILIENCE CONFERENCE 2026 (CARE2026) for documentation and promotional purposes. By attending the event, you consent to being photographed and/or recorded.

PROGRAM
DAY 2 AM - Episodic Risk: Water, Failure & Response
09:15 - 09:30 \| Coming Back Together
09:30 - 10:45 \| Plenary I: Integrated Water-Related Climate Risks Cascading Impacts in Urban Systems This session makes visible how extreme rainfall, flooding, sea-level rise, and landslides interact to overwhelm urban systems, triggering cascading failures across infrastructure, services, and communities. Scene-Setting Presentation (09:30 – 09:50) Prof. Christopher FREY, Associate Dean for Research and Infrastructure, College of Engineering, North Carolina State University Key themes include: Extreme rainfall and storm intensification in tropical and sub-tropical regions Flooding, drainage exceedance, and surface water impacts Sea-level rise and coastal exposure Landslides and slope instability in dense, hilly cities Cascading failures across energy, transport, and essential services Panel Discussion Moderator: Prof. Christopher FREY, Associate Dean for Research and Infrastructure, College of Engineering, North Carolina State University Panellists: Ir. Dr. Raymond CHEUNG, Head of Geotechnical Engineering Office, HKSAR Government Prof. Ju Neng LIEW, Head of Centre for Tropical Climate Change System (IKLIM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia Ms. Sandy SONG, Assistant Director (Development, Research and Administration), Hong Kong Observatory, HKSAR Government Mr. Eddie TSE, Gammon Construction Limited, Hong Kong Ms. Esther YUEN, Chief Engineer/Land Drainage, Drainage Services Department, HKSAR Government
10:45 - 11:00 \| Break
11:00 - 12:15 \| Plenary II: Integrated Chronic Climate Risks Heat, Humidity & Air Quality This session examines a class of climate risk that is less visible but more persistent. Heat, humidity, and poor air quality place continuous stress on health systems, labour productivity, energy demand, housing quality, and urban liveability, often without triggering emergency responses until systems begin to fail. Scene-Setting Presentation Prof. Ollie JAY, Director, Heat and Health Research Centre, University of Sydney, Australia Key themes include: Rising temperatures, urban heat island effects, and uneven exposure Interactions between heat, humidity, and air quality Impacts on health, labour productivity, and outdoor activity Cooling demand and energy system stress Why chronic risks rarely trigger “emergency mode” Panel Discussion Moderator: Prof. Ollie JAY, Director, Heat and Health Research Centre, University of Sydney, Australia Panellists: Prof. Alexis LAU, Head and Chair Professor, Division of Environment and Sustainability, HKUST Prof. Thanh NGO-DUC, Co-Director of the LOTUS International Joint Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of Hanoi, Vietnam Prof. Jerasorn SANTISIRISOMBOONS, Assistant Professor, RU-CORE, Ramkhamhaeng University, Thailand Prof. Chao REN, Professor, Faculty of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong
12:15 - 14:00 \| Lunch
DAY 2 PM - Trade-offs, Finance & Decision-Making
14:00 - 15:30 \| Plenary III: From Risk to Cost Who Pays, When, and for What? Financing Climate Resilience in a World of Limits As climate risks shift from episodic shocks to chronic system stress, societies face difficult decisions about when to invest, what to prioritise, and how costs and risks are shared. Not all risks can be insured, not all infrastructure can be protected, and not all adaptation can be delayed. This session examines how financial systems respond and where they fall short. Scene-Setting Presentation From Risk to Cost: Translating Climate Impacts into Economic Reality Ms. Paula DiPerna, Author of Pricing the Priceless; former President-International, Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) Key questions include: Why are sea-level rise and chronic risks harder to price than episodic disasters? How does delayed investment increase long-term costs? Does traditional cost-benefit logic break down under climate uncertainty? High-Level Panel Discussion Moderator: Prof. Christine Loh, Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment, HKUST Panellists: Ms. Paula DiPerna, Author of Pricing the Priceless; former President-International, Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) Mr. Martin NOBLE, Chief Financial Officer, Zurich Insurance (Hong Kong)
15:30 - 16:00 \| Closing Reflections From Hazards to Choices A short synthesis highlighting: The shift from extreme events to system stress The growing importance of governance and finance The implications for cities facing accelerating climate risks and solutions for cities in tropical and sub-tropical climates