Polar Studies, Environment, and Climate Change
Co-organised by the Hong Kong Chapter of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN Hong Kong), the Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, and the Polar Research Institute of Hong Kong.
The 2-day conference seeks to facilitate collaboration, exchange knowledge and solution-based discussions among scientists, researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and community representatives worldwide through a multidisciplinary and multifocal approach.
The International Universities Climate Alliance will convene a panel on Day 1.
Climate Action and Partnerships for the Goals | The Role of Universities in Climate Research, Collaboration & Knowledge Exchange
Universities have a leadership role to play in creating diverse partnerships to accelerate action on climate and to enable the realization of the commitments of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
In this session, speakers from three universities within the International Universities Climate Alliance (IUCA) will showcase their work and explore the importance of international collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Polar regions are particularly affected by climate change, warming much more rapidly than the rest of the globe. In turn, climate change at high latitudes can affect the climate through changes in deep and bottom water formation. Dr. Laurie Menviel of UNSW Sydney will provide an overview of the potential changes in deep and bottom water formation over the coming century and their impact on climate.
Nepal in the central Himalaya is home to eight of the world's ten highest peaks and is the fourth most climatically vulnerable country. The impact of climate change is visible in this region. Dr. Binod Dawadi of Tribhuvan University will explain how as a national university of Nepal they are initiating programs and activities to reduce the impact of climate change, and seeking to enhance its activities with global partners.
Dr. Chen Zhao of the University of Tasmania (UTAS) will highlight the urgent need for community efforts and international collaboration to address the large uncertainties in current sea level rise projections from the Antarctic Ice Sheet.
UTAS is a world leader in climate action; a path we must all follow to protect these crucial regions. Dr. Edward Doddridge will explain how Antarctic sea ice is rapidly changing; these changes almost certainly indicate a regime shift towards warmer waters and reduced sea ice coverage.