IENV Brochure - Introduction

PURSUING A SMART, HEALTHY & SUSTAINABLE HONG KONG IN THE GREATER BAY AREA

ABOUT

INSTITUTE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

We have a solid track record in conducting air quality related studies in Hong Kong and the region. Our research findings have been adopted in many different ways in the policymaking process both locally and regionally.

While our vision matches well with HKUST's "Strategic Objectives" - namely the 5 Clusters (such as Sustainability, Public Policy, and Innovation), IENV has been gaining tremendous support from the University on our research work and facilities (including the Atmospheric Research Center built in 2006 in Guangdong).

Institute for the Environment (IENV) is an interdisciplinary research institute of HKUST that promotes and conducts research aimed at improving the environment of Hong Kong, the Pearl River Delta (Greater Bay Area), and beyond.

We collaborate with a variety of stakeholders inlcuding academic, industrial and environmental non-governmental partners. We will continue to stretch our collaborative efforts and build crossborder synergies with mainland institutions for a greener and healthier Greater Bay Area.

FRONTIER RESEARCH CLEANING AIR BY FACILITATING EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY-MAKING PROCESS SINCE

KEY QUESTIONS

IENV EFFORTS

Where do those air pollutants come from?

Running different types of FORECASTING MODELS to predict air pollution episodes in different geographical scales

what kind of air pollutants are there?

Building AIR POLLUTION INVENTORIES

How can we mitigate the problem?

Conducting SOURCE APPORTIONMENT STUDIES to evaluate realistic emission profiles Conducting extensive REMOTE SENSING (satelite) STUDIES to understand large-scale air pollution distribution and transportations patterns Develop Local & regional AIR POLLUTION CONTROL MEASURES

POLICY INFLUENCES IENV has a two-decade long history working closely with cross-border governments on a variety of air quality research and pollution control measures.

Extensive efforts hence influencing corresponding decision-making processes have covered a wide range of policy areas that included regional air quality monitoring network, ship emissions, on-road vehicular emissions, air quality (and health) index, and formulation of future cleaner air blueprint.

1998

Supported Hong Kong Environmental Pollution Department (HKEPD) in developing Air Pollution Index (API) forecast system

2006

Joint efforts with Hong Kong's independent policy think tank Civic Exchange in shepherding industry-led voluntary control measures

2010

Fair Winds Charter: World first industry-led, voluntary, unsubsidized, at-berth fuel switch

2012

Clean Air Plan: Providing scientific evidence for HKSAR Government's air pollution control measures Air Quality Health Index: Providing scientific evidence for the revamping of the city's air quality index

2014

Provided scientific evidence for HKSAR Government - led to 11.4 billion HKD diesel commercial vehicle replacement scheme targeting 82,000 vehicles

2015

Supported HKEPD in the Guangdon-Hong KongMacau PM2.5 research project

2017

Air Pollution Control (Ocean Going Vessels) (Fuel at Berth) Regulation implemented

2018

HKUST joined the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Office for Marine Emissions and Control China will start enforcing clean fuel regulation near Chinese port

CHALLENGES & NEW RESEARCH AREAS CHALLENGES

NEW RESEARCH PROJECTS

PROGRESS

Lowering local / regional PM2.5 levels to reach health standards

To tackle the knowledge gap of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) important catalyst of PM2.5

HKUST VOC Analytics Lab to be operated in 2021

Exposure & Health in high-rise, high-density, high-popuLation cities

To develop a Peronalized Real-time Air-quality Informatics System for Exposure (PRAISE-HK)

A 5-year project in development, with the 1st phase mobile app to be launched in Nov 2018

High performance buildings & better indoor air quality

To advance Building Information Model (BIM) & to formulate indoor air quality (IAQ) guildlines

Joint efforts with building owners / property managers to examine and advance air filtration system for cleaner indoor air

Institute for the Environment The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay, Kowloon Hong Kong

Tel: (852) 2358 6901 | Fax: (852) 2358 1582 | Email: ienv@ust.hk Website: http://ienv.ust.hk Š 2018 Institute for the Environment, HKUST