Go Green and Lead the Society

We promote green living with Green Team via rooftop farming and environmental conservation actions.

Sunny Living Week

Sunny Living Week, echoing with the College's initiative ‘House of Sunny Living’, is a full-week event targeting on the well-being of the body, mind and spirit of our students and their contributions to the environment and society.

Upcoming Activities

Grow Your Paper 25/09/2025 | 19:00 - 21:00

Turn recycled paper into plantable seed paper and grow various plants—where creativity meets sustainability.

Eco-cultural Tour @ Long Valley Nature Park 27/09/2025 | 09:30 - 13:00

Explore Wetlands × Urban Planning × Community Relations - Delve into Long Valley Nature Park to observe the precious ecology of freshwater wetlands firsthand, students are able to examine how the development of the Northern Metropolis impacts the natural environment, and understand how nature conservation interacts and coordinates with the lives of local residents and farmers.
Together we explore the possibilities between environmental protection and urban planning.

Enquiry：soniayu@cuhk.edu.hk / 3943 3937

Event Highlights

Knowing Your Community – Eco-cultural Tour @ Ma On Shan

Every day, we can enjoy the view of Ma On Shan from our College campus, but how much do we really know about it? Professor Kwai-cheong Chau (Member, College Campus Environment Committee) and Miss Hoi-yan Tse, our College alumna, guided us through the journey that combined elements of geology, geomorphology, culture, economy, history, ecology, and conservation in Ma On Shan Iron Mine and Ma On Shan Village. It is also a valuable opportunity to reflect on the role of Grace Youth Camp in heritage conservation and community engagement, while tasting the thematic snacks at their Miners’ Café.

Eco-cultural Tour: Hakka Culture @ Kuk Po

Led by Professor Kwai-cheong CHAU (鄒桂昌教授), Member of College Campus Environment Committee, participants gained a better understanding on the indigenous knowledge of Hakka people and how their wise use of natural and cultural resources shed light on sustainable development.

You may take a glimpse through the Virtual Eco-cultural Tour to follow the steps of Professor Kwai-cheong CHAU and our alumnus Chi-yip KUNG in exploration of natural beauty and Hakka culture in Northeast New Territories.

Click the photo to begin our exploration!

Natural Food Waste Dyeing Workshop

Utilize traditional tying techniques along with your creativity to explore the charm of natural food waste and plant dyes. Hand-dye a unique tote bag to add a splash of color to your life while reducing environmental pollution.

Whispers of Plants

Successful applicants of Self-motivation Fund for Green Activities will share their experiences and insights of their participation in green activities with support of the fund. Demo session of dried floral arrangement and making yarns with plant fibres were held. Each participant has taken their art of nature home.

Sustainability Activities

The Art of Green Woodworking @ Kadoorie Farm

Participants experienced a transformative journey of using wood debris to craft unique wood product through learning about different wood recycling methods and getting hands-on experience using hand tools to craft raw wood chunks into DESKTOP VASE DECORATION. To complete the journey, the instructor led a relaxing tree walk in the Lower Farm area to let the Sunnies open their hearts, listen and be alive to nature.

Tree Planting Day

Participants gained valuable knowledge about the significance of planting trees as an effective strategy to restore the damage to ecosystems under SDG #15 (“protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”) and UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.

Shoreline Cleanup

Strolling on the beach and watching the sea is a delightful experience, but floating trash spoils the beautiful scenery. Every piece of trash we clean up helps protect marine life and contribute to SDG# 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG#15 (Life on Land).

Leave no trace and make a difference in protecting our environment.

Student Energy Ambassadors for
"Energy Conservation Incentive Scheme for Student Hostels"

Background

In 2023 the University introduced the Energy Conservation Incentive Scheme for Student Hostels (ECIS-SH) with the participation of all CUHK hostel buildings of the Colleges, Postgraduate Halls and I-House. The aim of ECIS-SH is to encourage positive behavioural change among student hostel residents and raise awareness throughout the University of the importance of energy consumption and conservation.

Roles of Student Energy Ambassadors

Student Energy Ambassadors nominated by College initiate publicity, education and/or engagement projects on responsible and smart energy consumption in our student hostels. 

Self-motivation Fund for Sustainability Activities

Self-Motivation Fund for Sustainability Activities encourages students to participate in various kinds of sustainability activities that promote sustainable development and reduce inequality.

Take a look on the GUIDELINES and REFLECTION TEMPLATE.

Extract of Students’ Reflections

Planting Vegetables in synchrony with the seasons of the year 

Understanding the principle of environment is the first step to go green! Solar Term is the framework for designing optimal farming schedules that aligned with the dynamic weather and climate...Farmers neglecting the Solar Term not only need to input extra energy and recourse for plant growth, the quality and quantity of their yields are even poorer compared to harvests from Solar Term-aligned farming practices.

Henry C.F. Lau (Urban Studies/ 2024)

Rooftop Farming

Rooftop Farming is one of our signature initiatives, working closely with Green Team, to engage students in green living. After planting in around October, the harvest in January – April is apparently the most expected and fruitful outcome for all farmers. In collaboration with College Cafe, some harvest were transformed into delicious bites from farm to table to share the tasteful moments to all Sunnies. 

To protect and nourish the soil during summer, cover crops like green beans, sunn hemp and sunflowers will be planted on rotational basis. The practice helps maintain the soil structure, improves soil fertility and lower farmers’ reliance on chemical fertilizers. “Put carbon back into soil” is also seen as one of the possible ways in fighting climate change.

Green Team

Green Team is formed by a group of passionate students to promote green living and sustainability. They have closely collaborated with College to implement a variety of activities, programmes and actions ranging from rooftop farming, eco-tours, green workshops and educational campaigns.

Any green ideas in mind, reach Green Team at Instagram | Facebook | Email

Green Actions

Guidelines for Sustainable Event Planning and Management

The following points deserve special attention and can also serve as an action checklist to

facilitate advance planning and duty assignment. Please always refer to the full guidelines

for implementation details and other environmentally-friendly suggestions.

• Go electronic and reduce paper consumption whenever possible and appropriate;
• Limit the number of handouts and souvenirs provided;
• Purchase fair trade or green products, and choose products without excess packaging;
• Do not provide corsages and, if name badge holders are used, choose reusable ones and collect them after the event;
• Do away with single-serving bottled water of 1L or below and avoid individually packed beverages and food items;
• Minimize disposables like dishware and utensils (e.g., by reminding guests to bring their own mugs, lunchboxes and cutlery);
• Do not use polyfoam meal containers;
• Help to protect threatened species by not serving or consuming the following food items: shark’s fins, bluefin tuna, black moss, humphead wrasse, Hong Kong grouper and sturgeon caviar;
• Reduce food waste: avoid buffets, and order a 6-course menu for Chinese banquets;
• Adopt measures to reduce waste at source, facilitate waste separation and arrange in advance for the collection of recyclables and unconsumed food;
• Keep air-conditioner temperatures at 25.5oC + 2oC during the summer months;
• Turn off lights, air-conditioners and equipment after use; and
• Engage the services of social enterprises which employ the disadvantaged or minorities.
• Encourage the participants to offset carbon emissions from their air travel.

CUHK Waste Management Policy and Guidelines

CUHK's Waste Management Policy, based on a 'waste management hierarchy', emphasizes the '6Rs' principle: Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle (or Recover).  We accord top priority to waste reduction at source and encourage cyclical use of resources.  Disposal is the last resort.

Read more about CUHK's Waste Management Policy and Guidelines