Youth Debate: Can Hong Kong Succeed in Its Green Deal?

My career combines commercial with sustainability policies. I worked for the ILO in Nigeria; the Dutch MFA and for the EU on nuclear fusion, humanitarian aid and health policies. Recent postings include Indonesia and the Philippines, where I served as head of the trade section of the EU Delegation, following which I was responsible for leveraging EU’s trade (preferences) for improving labour, human rights and environmental standards. In January 2021, I was appointed head of the trade section of the EU office to Hong Kong and Macao.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

Awareness, ambition, cooperation

Ambassador Thomas Gnocchi started his assignment as Head of the EU Office to Hong Kong and Macao on 1st September 2020. Prior to that, he was Deputy Head of Division for Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific and Deputy Head of Division for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the European External Action Service in Brussels. He served as Deputy Head of Office and Head of the Political, Economic and European Integration Section at the EU Office in Kosovo between 2012 and 2017 and as Head of the Political and Information Section at the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia between 2008 and 2012. Between 2003 and 2008, he worked at the European Commission in Brussels as desk officer for a number of Asian countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam. From 1994 to 1996 and from 2001 to 2003 he was posted in Beijing, P.R. China and between 1996 and 2000 he served in the Delegation of the European Commission to Vietnam. Ambassador Gnocchi was educated at the London School of Economics, Yale University and Tianjin University, P.R. China. His native languages are Italian and English and he also speaks French, Chinese and some Serbian.

As someone with a focus on environmental engineering, science, and comparative literature at HKU, Adella enjoys analysing problems through an interdisciplinary lens. Through her university experience, she has dabbled in environmental consulting, auditing, and fieldwork, and she firmly believes in creating harmony between humanity and the environment.

Felix is a third-year student at CUHK majoring in geography and resources management. He believes strongly that the public plays a vital role in climate action and thus aspires to empower the general public to do their part by considering both the rational and moral implications of climate change.

Hermia is a Global Studies student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Noticing the absence of climate education in Hong Kong, she co-founded the Network of Environmental Student Societies in 2021, with an aim to provide a one-stop platform for awareness raising, capacity building and driving climate actions with a focus in the interdisciplinary nature of climate change. Hermia attended COP26 in Glasgow, the UK and SB56 in Bonn, Germany advocating for Action for Climate Empowerment internationally.

My Sustainability Goals for 2022:

I hope to see climate change being mainstreamed in education in Hong Kong and to have more discussion and opportunities in green career.

Christie is an ecology & biodiversity student at HKU with a focus on marine biology. She has led several environmental initiatives and marine conservation projects, and recently participated in the 2041 Climateforce Antarctic Expedition. Centering nature at heart, she believes strongly in nature-based solutions and restoring biodiversity as a core effort in climate action.

Hi! My name’s Leo. An Electronic and Information Engineering student that has a big interest in sustainability topics and I have attended international sustainable conferences like over the years, it is my utmost pleasure to be here!

Shruthe is an Environmental Science and Engineering Graduate and a Founding Member in the Network of Environmental Student Societies (NESS). With her passion for climate change awareness and action, she has worked on a number of projects focusing on ESG and circular economy. She believes that responsible consumption and production is the key to a more sustainable future.

Hey all, David here! I’m from the Department of Computing.