“It is, what it is?” Donald Trump’s infamous words about the rising COVID-19 death toll in the USA, may accidentally and unintentionally contain keen insights. “It is” a system involving

“It is, what it is?” Donald Trump’s infamous words about the rising COVID-19 death toll in the USA, may accidentally and unintentionally contain keen insights. “It is” a system involving the Coronavirus (SARS COV 2) and humans and the “what it is” refers to how the virus invades us and replicates itself, a system guided and limited by only the laws of physics and chemistry that drive the natural world. Sadly and predictably, mankind was poorly prepared to deal with this pandemic, especially when it became apparent that the virus did not care about borders, politics, economies, education, or even sports. Science to the rescue! ​ Unfortunately, “it is what it is” applies equally well the series of events that will necessarily follow from our relentless modification of the global carbon cycle. The wake-up call that we have received from our poor-handling of the current pandemic may provide a limited window in which to encourage climate action or it might result in a period of “crisis fatigue”. In either case, scientists, educators, leaders, and general citizens will need to understand why we responded so poorly in this crisis so we will take the dramatic action required to address climate change. ​ 「算了，就這樣了」(It is, what it is)----現任美國總統對美國國内節節上升的死亡個案如此言論，也許實有洞見。如果「It is」指新冠病毒與人類並存在的系統，「what it is」應爲物理、化學定律限制的自然下，病毒入侵人體自我複製的系統。病毒不顧邊疆、政治、經濟、教育(甚至體育)，大肆進犯疫情面前毫無招架之力的人類。我們應該慶幸，科學在拯救我們! 不幸的是，「it is what it is」對應在一連串不可避免的事件，同樣見於人類擅自嬗變碳循環的情況。現時疫情處理差劣是一個警號，警醒我們從有限情況下應對氣候危機，否則將會陷入「危機疲勞」時期。不論如何，科學家、教育人士、不同界別領袖與民衆，都必須明白我們處理疫情差劣的緣由，我們同樣要採取果斷行動應對氣候變化危機。 The seed that grew into Mark McGinley’s concern about the current state of the world was planted during a childhood spent exploring nature in Texas, Australia, California, and elsewhere. As a student (B.S. Zoology, University of California, Santa Barbara; M.S. Ecology; Kansas State University, and PhD Ecology, University of Utah) he conducted research on the behavioral and evolutionary ecology of animals and plants. During his 24 years as a professor at Texas Tech University (Department of Biological Sciences and Honors College) he introduced students to nature by teaching field courses in Jamaica and Belize, along the Rio Grande, and 6 summers teaching marine biology and scuba on sailboat in Caribbean. He also endeavored to improve the scientific and environmental literacy of students and general public by helping to develop undergraduate programs in Integrated Science and Natural History; Humanities, graduate programs in STEM for middle school and secondary school teachers, and serving as Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth. Five years ago he moved to Hong Kong to take up the challenge of serving as a Professor and founding Head of Science Unit and Director of Core Curriculum and General Education at Lingnan University. 兒時探索加州、德州、澳洲與他鄉生態的經歷，在McGinley心中埋下了關懷世事的種子。在獲取加州大學聖塔芭芭拉分校動物學學士、堪薩斯州立大學環境學碩士與猶他州立大學環境學博士的學術路上，他專注研究動植物行爲與進化生物學。 於德州理工大學生物科學學院任教教授24年時，為啓發學生接觸自然生態，McGinley於牙買加、伯利兹及格蘭德河沿岸教授田野課程，並於加勒比海教授海洋生態及潛泳達六暑期。爲了成就改善學生與公衆科學與環境理解的志願，他亦協力發展綜合科學、自然史及人文本科生課程，針對中小學教師需要的研究生科創課程，以及出任Encyclopedia of Earth總編輯一職。五年前，McGinley來港赴任嶺南大學教授、科學教研組首任領導人及核心課程及通識教育辦事處處長。 This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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William Green is the author of Richer, Wiser, Happier: How the World's Greatest Investors Win in Markets and Life. Over the last 25 years, he’s spent hundreds of hours interviewing many legendary

William Green is the author of Richer, Wiser, Happier: How the World's Greatest Investors Win in Markets and Life. Over the last 25 years, he’s spent hundreds of hours interviewing many legendary investors, exploring the question of what insights, principles, traits, and habits enable them to achieve spectacular wealth and enduring success. In this talk, he shares some of the most valuable lessons he’s learned from the best investors -- lessons that can help us not only to become richer, but to think better and build lives that are abundant in the ways that matter most. As a journalist, William has written for many leading publications, including The New Yorker, Time, Fortune, Forbes, Barron’s, Money, Worth, Bloomberg Markets, and The Economist. He has reported in places as diverse as China, India, Japan, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Mexico, England, France, Monaco, Poland, Russia, and Italy. He has interviewed presidents and prime ministers, prize-winning authors, inventors, criminals, the CEOs of some of the world’s largest companies, and countless billionaires. While living in London, William edited the European, Middle Eastern, and African editions of Time. Before that, he lived in Hong Kong, where he edited the Asian edition of Time. He now lives in New York with his wife, Lauren, and their two children, Henry and Madeleine. Over the last quarter of a century, William Green has interviewed presidents and prime ministers, inventors, criminals, prize-winning authors, the CEOs of some of the world’s largest companies, and countless billionaires for The New Yorker, Time, Fortune, Forbes, Barron’s, Fast Company, Money, Worth, Bloomberg Markets, and The Economist amongst other publications. His most recent book Richer, Wiser, Happier: How the World’s Greatest Investors Win in Markets and Life is is based on some of his work in which he has interviewed many of the world’s best investors, exploring in-depth the question of what qualities and insights enable them to achieve enduring success. Born and raised in London, Green was educated at Eton College, studied English literature at Oxford University, and received a Master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. He lives in New York with his wife, Lauren, and their children, Henry and Madeleine This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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,000 years ago, humanity began a dramatic transformation of the landscape of Southern China. Forests were cleared for rice cultivation and firewood to power what would become Hong Kong’s first

,000 years ago, humanity began a dramatic transformation of the landscape of Southern China. Forests were cleared for rice cultivation and firewood to power what would become Hong Kong’s first major industrial endeavor. As China and other nations began to explore and trade on the high-seas, a rich bounty of life teemed below the surface of the South China Sea. For the ensuing millennia, that bounty was all but extinguished. Today, we live in a bustling metropolis in a landscape of mega-cities - the Greater Bay Area. With more than 100 million people in our neighborhood the impacts on nature are stronger than ever. Yet, beneath the waves the ocean is eerily quiet - fisheries are gone, mangrove forests, seagrasses, oyster and coral reefs have been destroyed. Climate change, pandemics, and waning resources are a constant threat. Globally, by 2050 we predict these ecosystems may be lost to history. In this talk, I will introduce what we can do to restore the ocean that surrounds us and regain the benefits of proper ecosystem functioning? How can we re-invest in our ecological future? Can technology and entrepreneurship reverse our slippery slope to catastrophe? ​ 三千年前，人類開始為華南地理環境帶來巨變。森林被開墾為稻田，其林木則為人類建設所用。當中華文明開始與海外文化經商往來，華南水域之下亦充滿別開一面的生機。只是隨著千年已過，水底生命亦逐漸逝去。今日我們居於巨大的都市群——粵港澳大灣區内其中一個充滿活力的都市。隨著鄰近地區常住人口超過一億，自然生態面臨前所未有之影響。然而，波紋之下，水底生態一片寂靜:魚業蕭條；紅樹林、海草、生蠔與珊瑚群悉數被毀。 氣候變化、疫症與資源緊縮一直威脅世界。我們估算大約在2050年前，全球將失去上述的生態圈。在此演講中，我將介紹可以修復海洋生態、重獲健康生態圈利益的方法，何以再投資生態未來，並討論以科技與創業行動，提出挽回生態的可能。 David is a multi-disciplinary ecologist who studies how humans impact the ecology and evolution of the oceans. He is particularly interested in coral reef ecosystems, which are currently undergoing a perilous decline. His group’s research scales from the ecosystem to cellular level, and combines tools in geochemistry, stable isotope ecology, ecophysiology, and molecular biology to answer questions pertaining to coral symbiosis and interactions with anthropogenic stressors. By improving our understanding of how corals function and how they have evolved over time, his goal is to foster their conservation for future generations. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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Changing climate hurts farming communities, but using tech, Bayu, and his agribusiness startup Msmb Indonesia can drive down production costs and help local farmers compete.⁣ After finishing his

Changing climate hurts farming communities, but using tech, Bayu, and his agribusiness startup Msmb Indonesia can drive down production costs and help local farmers compete.⁣ After finishing his Ph.D. at Iwate University, specializing in agro-climatology, environmental sciences, and climate change, Bayu Dwi Apri Nugroho is now an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Fac. Of Agricultural Technology UGM as well as the co-founder of Indonesia's frontier startup on precision farming.⁣ Using sensors and drones, the startup covers all farmer needs upstream to downstream, from land mapping to market analysis. With the use of machine learning, the farm condition could be translated into a recommendation that can be understood by the farmers.⁣ The startup has helped farmers in regions stretching from Sumatra Utara to Nusa Tenggara Barat, with collaborations coming from SOHO, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Beppenas, Kominfo, KemenPUPR, Kementan, Kominfo, Kemenko Perekonomian, BNI, BRI, BCA and Japfa.⁣ The app RiTX developed by the company received a Certificate of Merit from Asia Smart App Awards 2019 Hong Kong and saw publication in Tech in Asia and e27. Starting from a concern to develop corps farming technique in Indonesia has influenced Bayu to conduct in-depth research the correlation between Indonesia climate, sensor system and efficiency resources automation to produce maximum harvest result. With a dream the technology can be a smart automation solution for Indonesia farmers. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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Grace unexpectedly became the primary caregiver for her grandparents at a young age. Her talk explores the importance of preparation and support to help transform the often-arduous caregiving journey

Grace unexpectedly became the primary caregiver for her grandparents at a young age. Her talk explores the importance of preparation and support to help transform the often-arduous caregiving journey into a meaningful and fulfilling experience. Passionate about social impact, she founded Agewhale, a start-up to transform elderly care through innovative solutions. From Grace’s first-hand experience, she offers valuable guidance for navigating the often overlooked yet inevitable part of end of life. After graduating in Social Sciences from the University of Hong Kong, Grace joined an ambitious social enterprise, Fair Employment Agency, with the mission to end the forced labor of migrant domestic workers. At 26, she stepped into the role of General Manager to lead the organization through the turbulent 3-year COVID-19 pandemic. Raised by her grandparents, she has always had a special connection with older adults. Through providing care to her grandparents in their final years, she has firsthand experience of the challenges faced by family caregivers. Earlier this year, she founded Agewhale, a start-up to transform elderly care through innovative solutions. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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While our new climate reality may make us feel it is impossible to solve, Woody Chan argues that this is not the case. Having experienced the same helplessness, he shares how how overcame it while

While our new climate reality may make us feel it is impossible to solve, Woody Chan argues that this is not the case. Having experienced the same helplessness, he shares how how overcame it while working at China Water Risk, which evolved from a vision to a cutting edge think tank in 7 years. Woody goes through some “reach-for-the-sky” ideas to tackle climate change, from 3D printing steaks and capturing cow farts to slowing down fashion. Born in Hong Kong, Woody Chan graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2016 with a BA in Geography. Concerned with the extent and effects of wastewater discharge in China, the topic of his dissertation, he joined China Water Risk, an NGO that raises ecological awareness via various means, including collaborating with researching agencies as well as providing ecological and financial consultancy to industrial magnates. Currently, Woody hopes to use his multifaceted skills to help tackle the water & climate risks from a business and financial perspective. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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TEDxNYUShanghaiSalon Karmay Ngai Karmay Ngai’s is raised in Hong Kong, Shanghai & UK. Although usually known as an international model, Karmay majored in Graphic Design and Product Design in

TEDxNYUShanghaiSalon Karmay Ngai Karmay Ngai’s is raised in Hong Kong, Shanghai & UK. Although usually known as an international model, Karmay majored in Graphic Design and Product Design in college and wasn’t trained in school as a model. She described herself as: “Coached by life and Trained by coincidences.” Upon graduation, she has been based in New York for 7 years working as an International model contracted with several famous agencies all around the world. During which, she worked with companies such as Guess, Vivienne Westwood, Nars, and publications include Vouge, Harpers Bazaar, Elle, and more. In 2019 she comes to China and started expanding her label plu, with workshops and experimental events on the theme of sustainability & mental wellness. In 2020, she founded platform SSS (Sustainable Space Station) with continued devotion on merging sustainability into the modern world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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Congress will act on climate if they hear from more of their constituents, and a steady drumbeat of calls can really get their attention. Learn more about CCL's Monthly Calling Campaign, including

Congress will act on climate if they hear from more of their constituents, and a steady drumbeat of calls can really get their attention. Learn more about CCL's Monthly Calling Campaign, including success stories from Pennsylvania and Ohio. Noel Smyth, Delaware County, PA Chapter Noel is a Climate Policy advocate, and civil engineer at heart, with over 10 years’ experience leading transformation programs to shape carbon pricing policy and shift mindsets to preserve ecology and sustain a liveable planet for future generations. Noel has cross-cultural team experience across 12 countries including the US, England, India, Singapore, and Hong Kong. PMI Certified and Harvard MA in Sustainability. Lou Ann Horstman, Springfield, OH Chapter, is a clinical social worker, now retired and relishing time with her grandkids. She has enjoyed her work with the Monthly Calling Campaign over the last several months and is the administrator for Districts 8 and 16 in Ohio.

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Jamie Farndale is General Manager Club Development & Sustainability at Hong Kong China Rugby and a student on the Master of Studies (MSt) in Sustainability Leadership at The University of Cambridge

Jamie Farndale is General Manager Club Development & Sustainability at Hong Kong China Rugby and a student on the Master of Studies (MSt) in Sustainability Leadership at The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). Jamie shares his experience of studying one of CISL's postgraduate sustainable business programmes. Find out more about our postgraduate courses: www.cisl.cam.ac.uk/postgrad #Sustainability #SustainableBusiness #SustainableFuture #PostgraduateStudies

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Claire Sancelot is an environmental activist who started her eco-journey in Hong Kong. Since moving to Malaysia, Claire has opened up The Hive, a zero-waste, lifestyle and produce shop in Kuala

Claire Sancelot is an environmental activist who started her eco-journey in Hong Kong. Since moving to Malaysia, Claire has opened up The Hive, a zero-waste, lifestyle and produce shop in Kuala Lumpur. In her talk, she gives clear and easy steps on how anyone can live zero waste and help save the environment. Environmental activist, businesswoman This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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