From Ocean to Orbit: Tech Innovations Transforming Nature Monitoring and Climate Action

Prof Kenneth LEUNG is the Director of Sustainability/Net-Zero Office at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Prior to joining the university, he was the Principal Assistant Secretary (Air Policy) at the Environment and Ecology Bureau and Assistant Director (Air Policy) at the Environmental Protection Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Prof Leung obtained his PhD in mechanical engineering from Imperial College London and has expertise in combustion science, air quality management, environmental impact assessment, policy formulation relating to climate change, electric vehicles and new energy applications.

My Sustainability Goals for 2026:

• Establish a food waste processing facility at HKUST to upscale waste to valuable products.
• Establish a carbon emissions calculation framework for the shipping sector.

Dr Jay Joan Minuti is a marine scientist, having obtained her PhD in Marine Ecology from The University of Hong Kong (HKU), with over a decade of experience in research, teaching, and project management. Her expertise lies in coastal and marine ecosystem restoration, biodiversity and the application of nature-based solutions to climate adaptation in urban and coastal environments. She has led and managed numerous interdisciplinary projects in collaboration with government departments, NGOs, and industry partners in Hong Kong. Her work emphasises the translation of scientific research into practical and accessible formats to support environmental decision-making and public understanding. She has worked across different avenues of science communication and outreach, including the development of public-facing programs, workshops, and creative engagement initiatives that connect research with communities. Through these activities, she seeks to strengthen the interface between science, society, and environmental practice, particularly in the context of coastal sustainability in Hong Kong.

My Sustainability Goals for 2026:

• Hope 1: Coastal Restoration through Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and Green-Grey Infrastructure
  I hope to see Hong Kong scale up the restoration of its coastal and marine habitats (mangroves, seagrasses, oyster habitat and coral communities) through Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) that are embedded within urban infrastructure planning. By integrating living eco-shorelines and hybrid green-grey infrastructure into coastal development, I envision a future where ecological recovery and climate resilience go hand in hand, delivering shoreline protection, storm surge mitigation, and carbon sequestration in line with the Hong Kong Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2035.
• Hope 2: A “Blue Literacy” Movement
  Despite being surrounded by the sea, many Hong Kong residents have limited awareness of local marine biodiversity or the pressures it faces. I hope to see a city-wide “Blue Literacy” movement take root. One that deepens public understanding of Hong Kong’s marine environment and the challenges it faces. Through accessible science communication, creative outreach, and community engagement, I envision a society where citizens, students, and policymakers alike are informed and inspired to become active stewards of our coastal waters.

Professor Hui Su is a Chair Professor and Global STEM Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Director of the Space Science and Technology Institute at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Prior to joining HKUST in 2022, she served as a Principal Scientist and Weather Discipline Program Manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). She received her Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington and her B.S. from Peking University.

Professor Su is the co-lead of the HKUST-FYBB#1 satellite project and currently leads the MUSICO (Multi-Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory) project at HKUST. MUSICO is a lightweight, high-resolution greenhouse gas point-source monitoring payload aboard China’s Space Station, providing measurements of CO₂ and CH₄ concentrations for selected point sources across latitudes from 42°S to 42°N.

Her research interests centre on extreme weather, climate change, and remote sensing. She has published over 160 peer-reviewed articles. In 2024, she received the Banner I. Miller Award from the American Meteorological Society. She was twice awarded the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal (2010, 2022), received JPL’s Edward Stone Award (2021), and was honoured with the Lew Allen Award for Excellence in 2008.

Professor Su serves as a Member of the WCRP CLIVAR/GEWEX Global Monsoons Panel and as Co-Chair of the Global Precipitation Experiment Working Group 2 (Precipitation Data). She is a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society and the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society, and serves as an Editor for Geophysical Research Letters and Communications Earth & Environment.

My Sustainability Goals for 2026:

• I aim to improve extreme rainfall forecast in Hong Kong and contribute to the city’s climate resilience.
• I also aim to use satellite data to help Hong Kong to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.