ReThink HK 2022

Stepping into its 3rd edition, ReThink HK is the city’s ambitious business event for sustainable development, a large-scale, cross-sector platform that champions ESG transformation and showcases game-changing innovation. The 130+ sessions for ReThink HK 2022 are now being curated and will be hosted concurrently on seven theatres/stages plus a series of deep-dive workshops with 300+ expert speakers. Join the business leaders and sustainability practitioners across all business functions for discussing important topics including:  economic progression while coexisting with nature harmoniously, efficient use of resources, transformation to a low-carbon society, and circular economy for future generations.

We seek to inspire ambitious target setting, induce behavior change, and mobilise collective action towards a carbon-neutral Hong Kong by 2050. We are proud to announce that we are hosting the new programme, “HK2050isNow Energy & Mobility Summit” on Day 1 to rethink clean energy and how we move in Hong Kong. There will be 6 keynote and 6 panel sessions, and we have invited over 20 professional and inspirational speakers to explore the best path to carbon-neutral by 2050 in Hong Kong.

Check session details below or view here!

 

11:00 – 11:05
Opening Welcome: HK2050isNow Energy & Mobility Summit

Speakers: Mr Evan Auyang, Chairman at Civic Exchange

 

11:05 – 11:20
Shaping the Future of Sustainable Mobility

With the mobility sector contributing to approximately 25% GHG emissions globally, how can we make a transition to a more low-carbon future? Sustainable and green mobility charts a promising path for cities like Hong Kong to meet the rising demand from mega trends such as climate change and ageing population.
Speaker: Mr Jens-Peter Brauner, the CEO of Siemens Mobility Limited Hong Kong

 

11:20 – 12:10
Aligning Hong Kong and China’s Energy Sector Transition: Regional Collaborations for Our Future in Renewables

It has been close to two years since China pledged to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. What progress has been made so far? This panel will discuss Hong Kong’s energy transition in line with national ambitions – implications and opportunities for Hong Kong’s power sector, gaps and solutions in renewable energy funding and procurement, and the needs and challenges of increasing energy storage.

Speakers: Professor Linda Chelan Li from City University of Hong Kong, Ms Yushen Liu, Co-head of APAC Commercial at BloombergNEF, Mr Jim Taylor, Senior Director of Planning & Development at CLP, and Mr Mike Thomas, Managing Director at The Lantau Group
Moderator: Ms Grace Kwok, Chairman and Executive Director at Allied Sustainability and Environmental Consultants Group Limited.

 

12:10 – 13:00
Getting Real: Hong Kong’s Paradigm Shift to a Hydrogen Economy

Power generation and transportation are among the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in Hong Kong. Decarbonisation of these sectors is therefore a priority, in order for the city to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. As hydrogen emerges to fulfil its longstanding potential as a clean energy source, what are the opportunities and challenges of its adoption in Hong Kong?

Speakers: Ir. Kenny Chan, Vice President at Siemens Energy, Ms Summer Chen, Climate Advisory Specialist at ERM : Environmental Resources Management, Mr Alfred Wong, CEO – China at Ballard Power Systems, and Mr Issac Yeung, Head of Corporate ESG.
Moderator: Mr Victor Kwong, Chairman of Environmental Committee at Institute of ESG & Benchmark

 

13:00 – 13:10
Civic Exchange Reports: The Greater Bay Area Green Building Project

Led by Civic Exchange, this project is the third of a series of reports about research initiative on green buildings, and represents a collaboration between HK2050 is Now, the Greater Bay Area Green Finance Alliance and Hong Kong Green Finance Association. The report will examine four cities in the Mainland China – Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan and Zhuhai – with the aim of reviewing data availability, existing policies, challenges and obstacles for building emissions reduction, and to provide suggestions from perspectives of government policy, corporate action and financial tools.

Speaker: Ms Karina Chow, Research Analyst at Civic Exchange

 

13:10 – 13:20
How to Turn Climate Risk into Profitability

Understand how climate risk is going to affect us for a net-zero future and how to turn climate risk into profitability.
Speakers: Mr Arthur Lam, CEO & Co-Funder at Negawatt Utility Limited

 

13:20 – 14:10
Synergising for Energy Efficiency and Demand Management: A Case Study on our Built Environment

Despite the progress that has been made to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, there remains a lack of specification on whether a building is energy efficient and achieving its designed operating efficiencies. Adding to this are privacy concerns relating to the transparency of energy data. How can we synergise data collection and utilisation for better energy efficiency and demand management for buildings in Hong Kong?

Speakers: Dr. Calvin Lee Kwan, Director – Sustainability & Risk Governance at Link Asset Management Limited, Mr Arthur Lam, CEO & Co-Funder at Negawatt Utility Limited, and Dr Ruffina Thilakaratne, Associate Professor at Chu Hai College of Higher Education
Moderator: Peter Chan, Technical Director, Sustainable Building Design at Atkins China Ltd

 

15:05 – 15:15
Civic Exchange Reports: The Zero Emissions Mobility Project

With private car numbers on the rise and usage of dated technology in transportation systems, traffic conditions and pollution have worsened in recent years, contributing to increasing carbon emissions in Hong Kong.

This session will highlight the changes needed for the transportation industry to tackle technological, infrastructural, regulatory and funding challenges. This will include tech-based solutions — such as battery electric buses, hydrogen fuel cell buses, government subsidies, and green financing— as well as efficiency solutions, such as reliability improvements with the help of “big data” and customer-facing upgrades.

Speakers: Mr Lawrence Iu, Executive Director at Civic Exchange

 

15:15 – 16:05
Accelerating Business Transformation Towards the New Mobility Paradigm – Financing Solutions and Barriers

Despite growing policy support for accelerating low-carbon transportation and fleet electrification in Hong Kong, numerous barriers and risks continue to impede progress at meaningful scale. Some of these barriers are technological in nature, such as the suitability of battery range to fleets’ duty cycles. Others relate to the financing of electrification projects, such as concerns on ownership costs and residual value.

Getting to scale will therefore require entirely new approaches. In this session, speakers will share innovations in business models and financial strategies that are key to de-risking adoption and unlocking needed levels of deployment growth.

Speakers: Mr Jens-Peter Brauner, the CEO of Siemens Mobility Limited Hong Kong, Ms Suzanne Cheung, Head of Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability at Swire Coca-Cola HK, Mr Adam Leishman, CEO at Bravo Transport Services Limited, and Dr Henry Wong, General Manager – MTR Lab at MTR Corporation Ltd
Moderator: Mr Lawrence Iu, Executive Director at Civic Exchange

 

16:05 – 16:55
E-Mobility: Harnessing Policy and Technology on Our Low-Carbon Journey

As electrification of transportation systems progresses globally, there is a need for us to prepare on all fronts to meet a new era of rapid and widespread adoption of EVs, in line with the Hong Kong government’s target to attain zero vehicular emissions before 2050. And as stakeholders continue to keep pace with new technological and infrastructural opportunities and adapt to challenges, regulatory support and synergy between government, industry and other relevant stakeholders will be key.

Speakers: Mr Nelson Chow, Consulting Partner, Greater China at Ernst & Young Advisory Services Limited, Mr David Fung, Deputy General Manager – Product Planning & Distribution at Inchcape Greater China, Ir Michael Hing Sun Law, Assistant Commissioner/Technical Services at Transport Department, HKSAR Government, Mr Cliff Wu, General Manager at Hong Kong EV Power Limited
Moderator: Ms Sylvia He, Associate Professor at Chinese University of Hong Kong

 

16:55 – 17:45
Cross-Sectoral Approach to Overcome Decarbonisation Challenges: A Case Study by Cathay Pacific

The aviation industry has recognised Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as the main lever to meet its net-zero 2050 target. However, transitioning into SAF offers its own challenges. This session will talk about how Cathay Pacific is working with its value chain and corporate customers to accelerate the transition.

Speakers: Ms Grace Cheung, Group Head of Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility at Cathay Pacific Airways, Mr Jonathan Drew, Head of Global Banking Sustainability, Asia-Pacific at The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Mr Peter Lee, General Manager, Sustainability at Airport Authority, and Mr Nik Sam, Assistant Manager, Corporate and Community Sustainability at WWF-Hong Kong.
Moderator: Mr Lawrence Iu, Executive Director at Civic Exchange

17:45 – 17:50
Closing Remarks

Speakers: Mr Louis Wong, Chairman at Institution of Civil Engineers Hong Kong Association