Course Description

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were set up by the United Nations in 2015 to “achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.” In response to the SDGs, this  course explores how Hong Kong responds and reacts to various issues related to sustainable urban living.  As a global city with unique cultural, historical, economic and political setups, sustainability is a pressing concern and holds the key to the long-term urban development of Hong Kong.  The emphasis of the course is on understanding sustainable urban development in the context of a high-density, market-oriented Asian world city.

Urban sustainability is more than an environmental concept: It also includes the ethical utilization of resources, geographical equity, both inter- and intra-generational equity; as well as touching upon such social, economic and political issues, accommodating multi-cultural and diversified aspirations, ensuring public engagement and nurturing public participation and partnership in the development process.  The course offers a regional and comparative perspective to the understanding of the challenges that Hong Kong faces in maintaining her competitive role in the Greater Bay Area and the world.

[There will be a compulsory field trip in the semester.]

Course Learning Outcomes

On completing the course, students will be able to:

1. Explain urban sustainability challenges at the global level and examine responses in Hong Kong.
2. Use various sources of information to assess Hong Kong’s performance in terms of tackling various global issues.
3. Apply knowledge generated in the cases of Hong Kong to understand and examine sustainable urban development issues in Chinese cities.
4. Demonstrate a reflective response to global sustainability challenges in the context of Hong Kong and an awareness of the implications of such responses on the challenges China is facing in post-Covid-19 era.

Offer Semester and Day of Teaching

First semester (Sat)