Contemporary Challenges Facing Our Planet
1 global warming by 2100: Intensifying humanitarian emergencies with more frequent and severe heatwaves, wildfires, floods, tropical storms, and hurricanes.
1 people live in climate-vulnerable areas, with regions having weak health systems—mostly in developing countries—least able to prepare and respond without external support.
1 people lack electricity access, and 1 depend on polluting stoves and fuels for cooking, causing harmful indoor air pollution and health risks.
1 people lack safe drinking water, causing 1 diarrhoeal deaths annually from diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and polio.
CityUHK "FIRST" Programme
CityUHK leads the FIRST Programme, an initiative aimed at developing affordable technologies in collaboration with global partners to promote sustainability and enhance the quality of life, particularly in underprivileged regions.
We are committed to advancing sustainable development through the power of:
Science
Technology
Innovation
Visions
Promote Sustainability and Resilience through innovative, affordable technologies that improve living conditions in underprivileged regions.
Achieve Tangible Impact on SDGs by addressing clean water, affordable energy, climate action, and sustainable communities through science and innovation.
Foster Global Collaboration and Capacity Building via partnerships with over 20 countries and institutions to co-develop and deploy transformative solutions.
Create Lasting Socioeconomic Benefits by empowering communities with job creation, local training, and circular economy models that uplift livelihoods.
4 Transformative Technological Innovations
Passive Radiative Cooling Coating
Developed by Prof. Edwin Tso, this technology uses local waste materials to reduce house temperatures by up to 30°C, enhancing thermal comfort without the need for electricity.
Applications: Community housing, rural schools, health clinics, temporary shelters.
Impact: Improved thermal comfort, reduced carbon emissions, and local community empowerment.
Affordable Printable Solar Films
Developed by Prof. Alex Jen and Prof. Angus Yip, these scalable perovskite solar cells provide affordable electricity for rural areas.
Applications: Rural homes, schools, health outposts, water pumps.
Impact: Access to electricity, clean cooking, irrigation support.
Biomass Waste-to-Energy
Developed by Prof. Charles Xu and Prof. Carol Lin, this technology converts biomass and plastic waste into biofuels, promoting circular economies.
Applications: Urban slums, agricultural villages, remote towns.
Impact: Sustainable waste management, reduced reliance on fossil fuels.
Human-Powered Sanitation System
Developed by Prof. Zhiguo Yuan, this electricity-free UV disinfection system uses triboelectric generators to provide safe, potable water.
Applications: Remote villages, disaster zones.
Impact: Improved access to clean water, reduced incidence of waterborne illnesses.
Impacts
Short-term impacts
Immediate Improvements in Quality of Life
Capacity Building and Community Engagement
Pilot Testing and Validation
Job Creation
Long-term impacts
Transformative and Scalable Solutions
Strengthened Resilience Against Global Challenges
Sustainable Economic Development
Cultural Shift Towards Sustainability
Advancement of Global Scientific Knowledge
Institutional Leadership in Sustainability
Timeline
1st Pilot Site: Hunan, China (Oct 2025)
Kuzhi Yucai School (苦志育才公益学校), a boarding school supporting 239 students—orphans and children from extremely vulnerable households—have received cooling and sanitation innovations that offer comfort, dignity, and hope to those navigating life’s most difficult moments.
Site Visit: Completed Mid-October 2025
2nd Pilot Site: Hong Kong, China (Oct 2025)
Chong Gene Hang College (張振興伉儷書院), an aided secondary school with more than 500 students, has implemented the FIRST Programme’s rooftop cooling innovations to mitigate intense heat in upper-level classrooms caused by direct sun exposure.
Site Visit: Completed Late October 2025
Contact Us
| Email: | UN-FIRST@cityu.edu.hk |
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