Message from Our Chairperson - Dr. S. S. Chung
In 2015, global surface temperature was risen by 1°C when compared to that at pre-industrial levels. Yet, we already used up two-third of the CO2 emission allowance provided by the 2oC safety limit at that time (Khan, 2015). Implication? Carbon dioxide that is emitted today will take time to warm up earth surfaces. So, by the time we can measure a warming of 2oC, the amount of greenhouse gases that are released to the atmosphere would have well exceeded our carbon budget.
On 9th February, 2024, EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (2024b) announced that “Taking into account the average of the last twelve months, the global mean temperature was the highest on record at 0.64°C above the 1991-2020 average and 1.52°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average.” However, because the release time of this bad news fell on our Lunar Chinese New Year Eve, most Chinese were too busy to celebrate the New Year that this news almost went unnoticed in the Chinese communities.
One month later, the same organization told the world that “global average temperature in February [2024] was 1.77C above the pre-industrial average and marked the ninth month in a row of record heat” (Copernicus, 2024a).
What is your response to all the very bad news? Worried? Scared? Or denial? All these are signs of climate anxiety which is caused by a “feeling of not being efficacious to do something about it” (Rudgard and Wittels, 2024).
True, the outlook is bleak and I believe that there will be more bad news in the pipeline.
However, according to experts, be part of a collective and do something positive in a group rather than alone can be helpful. This is essentially why the Conservancy Association is established – to provide a platform for like-minded people to work together to create synergy for delivering a sustainable future. We are definitely running out of time and whatever actions we take, it may even be too little too late. Yet join a green group, take immediate action and don’t give up are still the most rational choices that we have.
Copernicus, 2024a. Warmest February on record, the 9th consecutive warmest month, Monthly Climate Bulletin, 8th March, https://climate.copernicus.eu/warmest-february-record-9th-consecutive-warmest-month (accessed 12th Mar. 2024)
Copernicus, 2024b. Warmest January on record, 12-month average over 1.5°C above preindustrial, Monthly Climate Bulletin, 9th February, URL https://climate.copernicus.eu/warmest-january-record-12-month-average-over-15degc-above-preindustrial (accessed 12th Mar. 2024)
Khan, B., 2015. The World is Halfway to 2°C, Climate Central News, URL https://www.climatecentral.org/news/the-world-is-halfway-to-2c-19663 (accessed 12th Mar. 2024)
Rudgard, O. and Wittels, J., 2024. Climate change fuels new anxieties. The Standard, 20th February, p.12.
Message from Our Chief Executive - Mr. Ken K. Y. So
The grand opening of the Jockey Club - The Conservancy Association Urban Forestry Green Hub in June 2023 marked a year when the Conservancy Association became closer to the community than ever. We are grateful for the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s sponsorship, which allowed us to build the first urban forestry education centre in Hong Kong and carry out community education work on urban forestry for 2.5 years.
By the end of 2023, approximately 2,200 visitors came to our centre to see exhibitions, participate in activities incorporating the arts, and attend seminars and talks discussing topics like tree conservation, in the process learning about the importance of trees and thinking of ways to contribute to the cause together. This is precisely our goal - to help people understand, form a positive attitude towards tree conservation, and ultimately take action.
It has been 55 years since the Conservancy Association was established; as a green group, we care deeply about the different environmental issues in Hong Kong, but also recognise the necessity for development to boost the economy and bring prosperity to our society. We will continue to communicate with different government departments and stakeholders, as well as utilise our knowledge about the environment and ecosystem to contribute to biodiversity preservation and sustainable development.
On the other hand, our Board of Directors is leading the organisation on a quest to evaluate and update our vision, mission and core values, and discussing with colleagues the mid- and short-term directions on ecological conservation, environmental education, corporate ESG, green lifestyle and policy advocacy, in order to make sure our work aligns with the needs of a growing Hong Kong.
Finally, I would like to thank all colleagues and the Board of Directors for their hard work over the past year and for supporting the Conservancy Association and me. I sincerely hope that Hong Kong’s rich ecological resources can sustain forevermore, because a healthy natural environment is worth its weight in gold.
