SolarCare - Other Activities

Event Recap
The experience of climate change exacerbates brings out more extreme weather conditions, including heat waves in many parts of the world. This difficult experience also reminded us that it is urgent for us to address climate change immediately.

Summers are getting hotter and hotter every year in Hong Kong. July this year hit a new record for the hottest single month since 1884. After more than 14 days of very hot weather warnings, torrential rain brought a brief cool to Hong Kong last Saturday. However, on the last day of July, Hong Kong Observatory issued a very hot weather warning again. On this exact day, CCIL held "Yim Tin Tsai Solar Energy Day" in Yim Tin Tsai, Sai Kung. The event introduced solar energy to everyone through a series of activities, hoping that the public will pay more attention to the impact of climate change and support the development of renewable energy. A total of over 200 people participated in the event.

Yim Tin Tsai is a small island located in Sai Kung with historical and ecological value, blending traditional Hakka groups and Western Catholic cultural features. On this small island, the salt pans reflect the history of Hong Kong, St. Joseph's Chapel has been rated as a Grade II historic building, and the mangroves on the island are an important ecosystem. In recent years, solar energy systems have been added to the island, turning this island into a force in building a zero-carbon Hong Kong. The Jockey Club SolarCare Program under CCIL collaborates with two non-profit organizations, Gideon Ministries and The Salt and Light Preservation Centre, on the island. CCIL built solar power systems for them in late 2020 and 2021 respectively. A total of 141 solar panels were installed, and the total system capacity is 63.8 kW. Gideon Ministries is the first local military training school in Hong Kong, which uses field training to help young people explore the direction of life and understand themselves. The Salt and Light Preservation Centre is responsible for the preservation and promotion of cultural and ecological conservation in Yim Tin Tsai. 

Participants came to “Yim Tin Tsai Solar Energy Day” despite the extreme heat of the weather on 31st July. First, they took photos with "Dynamic Ah Tan", a solar-powered installation. Then, they took photos at various attractions on the island. There were guided tours that introduced participants to the history of the island and the solar energy systems. Also, there are workshops to teach the participants to make solar torches, and booth games to let people learn about climate change knowledge. Moreover, there was also a solar home appliance exhibition to let everyone know more about the applications of solar energy. Some workshop participants said, "The solar torch is wonderful! When there is no light, it will shine on its own!" (it is a reference to the movie, From Beijing with Love, in which the solar torch wouldn’t work when it is not placed under the sun.)”. Many participants expressed that the weather is very hot, and after listening to the staff's explanation, they understood that the hot weather was caused by the intensification of climate change, and the use of renewable energy can reduce carbon emissions, and an effective way to mitigate climate change. Many parents bring their children to the event. Some parents expressed their feelings of hoping their children would learn how to love the earth from childhood.