Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) held its first “Talk of the Metropolis” of the year today (26 March), featuring youth delegates of the 28^th Conference of Parties (COP28) Carly Leung Pui-yee and Jasmine Siu Yin-nam. They spoke on the topic “Creating a Sustainable Metropolis: Nurturing Youth Leadership in Climate Action”, sharing their experience in participating in COP28, including the challenges and opportunities in promoting climate awareness among young people.

COP is an annual international conference focusing on addressing climate change and formulating action plans. Last year, youth delegates Carly Leung Pui-yee and Jasmine Siu Yin-nam attended COP28 in Dubai. Spanning nearly two weeks, the conference brought together approximately 200 representatives from diverse countries and regions to engage in fruitful discussions on climate change, international collaboration, energy and industry, as well as economic and trade matters, in a series of meetings. As one of the young delegates from Hong Kong, Carly Leung Pui-yee said she greatly benefited from the conference, as it provided a platform for the international community to explore and negotiate environmental issues, thereby fostering collaboration among various stakeholders and organisations. This experience reinforced the pivotal role of youth engagement in driving climate action. She said, “Climate justice is not just a responsibility, but a promise we must keep for the next generation to ensure they inherit a world in which their dreams can thrive.”

Jasmine Siu Yin-nam, another youth delegate at COP28, played an active role in advocating climate action. She emphasised the significance of youth engagement and highlighted the role and challenges they face in addressing climate change. She pointed out that reversing climate change is an urgent matter and that there are four layers of climate actions: individual behavioural change, societal policy change, communal value shifts and global systematic transformation. These actions encompass efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and at the same time promote public awareness and education regarding climate change by creating impactful international policies. She said, “Every single person has the ability and power to make conscious decisions. Big or small, all decisions leave a footprint on our environment, affecting the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. We must make our decisions wisely before nature has to teach us another lesson.”

HKMU Council Chairman Ir Dr Conrad Wong Tin-cheung praised Carly Leung Pui-yee and Jasmine Siu Yin-nam for their devotion to climate action and for being role models for the new generation. He said he hoped that their sharing would inspire young people to engage in climate action.

Carly Leung Pui-yee is a member of the UN Asia-Pacific Youth Advisory Group on Environmental and Climate Justice and the Co-founder of Climate Incubator. She is passionate about climate education, youth empowerment, sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Jasmine Siu Yin-nam is passionate about facilitating a positive environmental and social impact through innovative solutions and collaboration, both locally and internationally. Since 2021, Jasmine has been a facilitator for the Local Conference of Youth. She is also a Field Officer at A Plastic Ocean Foundation, which is dedicated to creating a wave of change to conserve the oceans through science, education and policy advocacy.

The “Talk of the Metropolis” series aims to provide a platform for people from all walks of life to be inspired by the views from experts and scholars, thereby having a positive impact on social development. All talks in the series will be broadcast on the University's “Knowledge for All” programme every Sunday morning on TVB Pearl. To learn more about the public lecture series or watch past videos, please visit https://www.hkmu.edu.hk/pao/talk-of-the-metropolis/.