Paris Watch - Youth Training
Past Event
2025-04-12
The 5th Cohort of the CATY Community Climate Advocacy Project Final Presentation and Graduation Ceremony
On Saturday, 12th April 2025, CarbonCare InnoLab (CCIL) successfully hosted the 5th Cohort of the CATY Community Climate Advocacy Project Final Presentation and Graduation Ceremony. Since April 2024, 22 youths from this cohort have engaged in a series of climate advocacy training courses, learning to utilise skills such as data collection, media communication, and policy lobbying to advance community-driven climate action initiatives. After receiving feedback from commentators during the mid-term presentation in July 2024, four teams refined their projects through various activities, including site visits, bicycle-guided tour, and experimental campus workshops, to communicate their advocacy ideas to community stakeholders and gather feedback. They also drafted policy proposals submitted to government departments and relevant organisations.
In the opening speech, Mr. Chong Chan Yau, Co-founder and Board Advisor of CCIL, emphasised: "While global climate policies remain uncertain, the impacts of the climate crisis have remained unabated. We hope young people will uphold their convictions and actively drive climate action forward." The event invited commentators including Mr. Andy Chu, Programme Manager at Greenpeace; Ms. Carmen Lee, Freelance Professional focusing on public campaigning and facilitation; Mr. Kosby Fu, Senior Vice President of the DBS Foundation; and Ms. Ivy Leung, Executive Director of CCIL, who provided practical recommendations for the students' advocacy projects. Commentators and the CCIL’s team commended the four projects for injecting innovative momentum into youth-led climate action in Hong Kong. Key outcomes include:
CyclePunk (IG: cyclepunk_hk)
Advocated for improved cycling infrastructure in the public and private sectors. Actions included: investigating cycling facilities in Tseung Kwan O, designing community cycling maps, creating a board game focusing on sustainable transportation, and collaborating with bike-sharing companies to host a bicycle-guided tour. Their work highlighted gaps in existing infrastructure and proposed policy reforms.
EarthWise（IG: earthwise_hk)
Advocate for including climate change and climate justice education in the education curriculum. Initiatives included: designing a simulated climate justice curriculum for secondary schools and guiding students to role-play stakeholders navigating extreme climate dilemmas. EarthWise has partnered with the fourth-cohort team, HealingParks, to study urban parks’ role in climate adaptation.
FlashTrash（IG: flashtrash.hk)
Focused on waste reduction and revamping waste management strategies at public markets. The team conducted surveys and interviews at government and community markets, interviewing contractors, vendors, residents, and tourists to analyse waste management challenges and improvement opportunities.
Transtinue（IG: transtinue)
Advocated for climate-resilient bus stop upgrades. After collecting over 300 surveys, they found that nearly half of the respondents had altered their travel plans due to extreme heat at bus stops. Through 20+ on-site temperature assessments and interview results, proposing improvement plans for unshaded stops and hospital-area bus facilities.
The ceremony concluded with Mr. Chong Chan Yau and Ms. Ivy Leung presenting graduation certificates to participants and mentors. Ms. Leung remarked: "The path of climate advocacy is long and challenging, but the fifth cohort’s ability to face challenges is encouraging and inspiring. We hope Hong Kong’s youth will continue amplifying climate justice and safeguarding vulnerable communities’ rights."
Although the fifth training program has ended, the youths’ journey of climate action will continue. In the future, they will continue to deepen their community advocacy and expand to an international perspective, urging global attention to the climate crisis.