Climate care actions in Hong Kong got a celebrated push as Carbon Care Asia (CCA) hosted a reception and launched the Carbon Care Champions Award Scheme to promote carbon reduction and offset actions. Mr Edward Yau, JP, Secretary for the Environment, was invited to be the officiating guest of the ceremony, and leading popular singer Ms Kay Tse was invited to receive the Individual Carbon Care Champion souvenir.
In this well-attended gathering of social celebrities and leaders from various business and community organizations, a total of ten corporate / organisation Carbon Care Champions were also acknowledged for their commitment and support to carbon measurement, reduction and offsets. These champions include:
- Regal Hotel International Holdings Ltd
- The Hong Kong Jockey Club
- New World Development Company Limited
- Phoenix Satellite Television Co Ltd
- Secure Information Disposal Services Limited (SSID)
- Freudenberg & Vilene International Ltd (FVI)
- Association for Sustainable and Responsible Investment in Asia (ASrIA)
- Hong Kong Island Paddle Club
- Branscombe Marine Consultants
- Harbour Junior Chamber
During a simple yet eye-catching symbolic ceremony, each Champion was presented with a zero emission souvenir — a traditional Chinese paper fan with ‘Carbon Care Champion’ handwritten by a Chinese calligrapher.
Executive Director Dr Trini Leung took the chance to seal a donation scheme agreement between CCA and two most longstanding and renowned local environmental NGOs – The Conservancy Association and Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong). Under this scheme, 6% from CCA’s carbon offset revenues will be designated, upon clients’nomination, to support the important work on sustainability and climate change response of these two green groups.
CCA Chairman Chong Chan Yau announced a new Carbon Care Champions Award Scheme, which is set up for the purpose of promoting carbon culture change and facilitating immediate carbon care actions taken by organizations and individuals. It aims to deliver 420,000 tonnes of carbon reduction in 2011, which represent about 1% of total carbon emissions of Hong Kong. The Champions Awards will be presented at an annual ceremony, the first of which is scheduled to be in next September.
Regal Hotels International was the Event’s venue sponsor and supporting organization. With professional help from CCA, their Regal i-club Hotel has become the first carbon neutral hotel in Hong Kong.
Photo captions:
- Social celebrities and leaders from various business and community organisations gathered together to celebrate the launch of Hong Kong’s Carbon Care community on 15 Sept 2010 at the Regal Hong Kong Hotel.
- Carbon Care Individual and Corporate / Organisation Champions with officiating guest Mr Edward Yau, JP, Secretary for the Environment (2nd right, front row) and Carbon Care Asia directors.
- The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, emphasized the need for Hong Kong to adopt a proactive and forward-looking strategy in tackling climate change, pointing out that carbon offset is a tangible and meaningful carbon reduction action.
- Mr Edward Yau, because of his personal support to carbon offsets，becomes one of the Individual Carbon Care Champions to receive a souvenir form CCA.
- The zero-carbon Chinese paper fan, presented by Carbon Care Asia Chairman Chong Chan Yau (1st left) and Executive Director Dr Trini Leung (1st right) to VIP guests Mr Edward Yau and Ms Kay Tse.
- To give an on-stage demonstration of CCA’s carbon footprint calculators, our MC Mr Ambrose Lau asked Ms Kay Tse questions on her personal lifestyle and flight history.
- Ms Lo Poman, Executive Director of Regal Hotels International Holdings Ltd, the Event’s venue sponsor and supporting organization, highlighted the group’s experience in making its i-Club Hotel Hong Kong’s first carbon neutral hotel in town.
- Popular singer Ms Kay Tse was invited to share her personal experience in how to go low carbon in one’s daily activities.
- Customers of CCA carbon offsets can help make additional funding contribution to two local NGOs’ important work on sustainability and climate change response. CCA Chairman Chong Chan Yau, Executive Director Dr Trini Leung in a symbolic ceremony with representatives of the donation scheme beneficiaries — Mr Ken So (1st right) , Chief Executive of The Conservancy Association and Ms Janet Fok ( 2nd left), Development Manager of Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong).
- CCA Chairman Chong Chan Yau explained how the newly launched Carbon Care Champions Award Scheme works for individuals and organisations.
- CCA Chairman Chong Chan Yau, pictured with VIPs Mr Edward Yau, Secretary for the Environment and Ms Lo Poman, Executive Director of Regal Hotels International Holdings Ltd.
- CCA Chairman Mr Chong Chan Yau, Director Rosanna Wong (2nd right) and Senior Environmental Consultant Ir Dr Shelley Zhou (1st right) with MC Mr Ambrose Law (1st left) and Ms Kay Tse.
- Guests enjoying a chat with CCA Business and Sustainability Consultant Lam Shan Shan (1st left) and Director Rosanna Wong (1st right).
- Mr Lister Woo (1st right), chairman of the Hong Kong Island Paddle Club, one of the organisation Carbon Care Champions, with guests from the business sector.