Climate Adaptation & REsilience Conference 2026 (CARE2026)

Name: Climate Adaptation & REsilience Conference 2026 (CARE2026)
Start: 2026-10-08
End: 2026-10-10

8 October 2026 to 10 October 2026

Lam Woo Lecture Theater (LT-B), HKUST

Supporting the below United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:支持以下聯合國可持續發展目標：支持以下联合国可持续发展目标：

9.Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

11.Sustainable Cities and Communities

13.Climate Action

Building on previous CARE conferences, CARE2026 marks the third gathering in the series, an international platform dedicated to advancing climate adaptation and resilience through interdisciplinary dialogue and practical engagement.

The conference brings together government leaders, scientists, policymakers, financiers and practitioners to examine how cities can understand and respond to intensifying climate risks.

For details: https://care.hkust.edu.hk/

Conference Structure

8 Oct, 2026 | Day 1: From Climate Science to Urban Resilience

Day 1 establishes a common foundation for CARE2026, bringing together government leaders, scientists, policymakers, financiers and practitioners in a single-track plenary programme. It begins with the latest climate science and the development of early warning systems, before examining how global and regional risks are experienced in cities. The afternoon turns to Hong Kong’s response, focusing on resilient infrastructure, housing, biodiversity, nature-based solutions and finance. Together, these discussions provide the scientific and policy foundation for the more detailed examination of impacts and implementation on Day 2.

9 Oct, 2026 | Day 2: From Climate Signals to System Stress: Hazards, Impacts, and Choices

Day 2 examines how climate signals become stresses on urban systems, affecting infrastructure, economies, health and everyday life. The programme distinguishes between two broad but interconnected forms of risk:

Episodic shocks, including extreme rainfall, flooding, coastal inundation and landslides; and
Chronic stresses, including heat, humidity and poor air quality.

Across the day, the discussion moves from hazards to cascading impacts, and from impacts to choices about planning, investment and the allocation of costs and risks. Attention will be given to how cities make decisions under growing uncertainty and in circumstances where not every risk can be prevented, protected against or insured.

10 Oct, 2026 | Day 3: Forum on Scaling Nature‑based Solutions in Hong Kong Research Needs and Stakeholder Perspectives

This half-day forum brings together researchers, government officials, practitioners, asset owners and potential funders to identify the research and institutional support needed to scale nature-based solutions in Hong Kong. Rather than a conventional series of presentations, it is designed as a structured dialogue that connects research questions with the practical needs of those who plan, approve, deliver and finance projects.

The forum is organised around two themes: implementing nature-based solutions and developing workable approaches to nature finance. Its intended outcome is an agreed set of priority research and collaboration needs for follow-up after CARE2026.

Speakers

(Listed in order of appearance. More speakers to be announced soon.)

Image	Mr. Chin-wan TSE Secretary for Environment and Ecology The HKSAR Government	Image	Prof. Celeste SAULO Secretary-General World Meteorological Organization
Image	Mrs. Martha KESWICK Creator COPE Disaster Champions	Image	Prof. Xiaoye ZHANG Academician Chinese Academy of Engineering China Meteorological Administration
Image	Mr. Jagan CHAPAGAIN Secretary General International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies	Image	Dr. Estelle De CONING Chief of the Weather and Societal Impact Research Section World Meteorological Organization
Image	Prof. Fei CHEN Co-Chair of the Urban-PREDICT Project, WMO Associate Head and Professor Division of Environment and Sustainability, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology	Image	Prof. Soledad Garcia FERRARI Co-Chair of the Urban-PREDICT Project, WMO World Meteorological Organization
Image	Dr. Yamin HU Deputy Director of the Guangdong Climate Center Guangdong Meteorological Bureau	Image	Prof. Chi Ming SHUN Adjunct Professor Division of Environment and Sustainability, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Image	Mr. Clement CHEUNG Chief Executive Officer Insurance Authority	Image	Ir Michael FONG Director Civil Engineering and Development Department, The HKSAR Government
Image	Ir Ricky LAU Permanent Secretary for Development (Works) Development Bureau, The HKSAR Government	Image	Mr. Peter LEE Chief Sustainability Officer Airport Authority Hong Kong
Image	Ir Ringo MOK Director Drainage Services Department, The HKSAR Government	Image	Ms. Winnie HO Secretary for Housing Housing Bureau, The HKSAR Government
Image	Prof. Siu Fai LEUNG Adjunct Professor Division of Environment and Sustainability, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology	Image	Dr. Samuel CHUI Director of Environmental Protection Environmental Protection Department, The HKSAR Government
Image	Mr. Mickey LAI Director Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, The HKSAR Government	Image	Dr. Tim LI Chief Architect Hong Kong Housing Authority, The HKSAR Government
Image	Mr. Stephen SUEN Director Nature-Based Solutions Lead Sustainability Task Force, AECOM	Image	Prof. Christine LOH Chief Development Strategist Institute for the Environment, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Image	Dr. Erik BERGLOF Chief Economist Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank	Image	Prof. Yongjiu DAI Academician Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University
Image	Mr. Peter DAN Chief Risk Officer The Bank of East Asia (China) Limited	Image	Mr. Ronald YOUNG Head of Sustainability Banking Development Hong Kong Monetary Authority
Image	Mr. Bien WONG Assistant General Manager – Group ESG cum Executive – Group Knowledge Management Office The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited	Image	Prof. Christopher FREY Futrell Distinguished University Professor College of Engineering, North Carolina State University
Image	Ms. Yiki CHENG Assistant Sustainability Manager Gammon Construction Limited, Hong Kong	Image	Ir Dr. Raymond CHEUNG Head of Geotechnical Engineering Office Civil Engineering and Development Department, The HKSAR Government
Image	Prof. Ju Neng LIEW Head Centre for Tropical Climate Change System (IKLIM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia	Image	Ms. Sandy SONG Assistant Director (Development, Research and Administration) Hong Kong Observatory, The HKSAR Government
Image	Ms. Esther YUEN Chief Engineer/Land Drainage Drainage Services Department, The HKSAR Government	Image	Prof. Ollie JAY Director Heat and Health Research Centre, University of Sydney, Australia
Image	Prof. Alexis LAU Tang Junyuan Professorship in Environmental Science & Head and Chair Professor Division of Environment and Sustainability, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology	Image	Prof. Thanh NGO-DUC Co-Director of the LOTUS International Joint Laboratory University of Science and Technology of Hanoi
Image	Prof. Chao REN Professor Faculty of Architecture at The University of Hong Kong	Image	Prof. Jerasorn SANTISIRISOMBOONS Assistant Professor RU-CORE, Ramkhamhaeng University
Image	Ms. Paula DiPerna Author of Pricing the Priceless Former President-International of Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX)	Image	Dr. Calvin Lee KWAN Director - Sustainability & Risk Governance LINK Asset Management
Image	Mr. Martin NOBLE Chief Financial Officer Zurich Insurance (Hong Kong)	Image	Dr. Ching Choi LAM Chairman, Council for Carbon Neutrality & Sustainable Development Non-official Member of the Executive Council of the HKSAR Government
Image	Prof. Alice HUGHES Professor University of Melbourne	Image	Prof. Billy HAU Principal Lecturer and Programme Director, MSc in Environmental Management The University of Hong Kong
Image	Prof. Yuhong WANG Professor The Polytechnical University of Hong Kong	Image	Ms. Joyce LAU Project Manager (North) Civil Engineering and Development Department, The HKSAR Government
Image	Mr. Antony WAN Senior Engineer Drainage Services Department, The HKSAR Government	Image	Mr. Patrick LAI Deputy Director Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, The HKSAR Government
Image	Mr. Eddie TSE Group Sustainability Manager Gammon Construction Limited, Hong Kong	Image	Mr. Alexander (Sandy) Main DUGGIE Managing Director URBIS
Image	Prof. Quentin MOREAU Assistant Professor Division of Environment and Sustainability, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology