On the afternoon of 17 September 2026, the “Greater Bay Area Carbon Neutral Campus Symposium and the Kick-off Meeting and Panel Discussion” for the Guidelines on Carbon Accounting for Campuses in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area were held at Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST).

Group photo of all attendees

The events brought together experts and scholars from universities, research institutions, standardization organizations and industry, including Mr. Liu Jie, Deputy Director of the Guangdong Institute of Standardization; Mr. Zhang Dingkang, Secretary-General of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Standardization Promotion Association; Mr. Ho Chi Shing, Chief Executive Officer of BEAM Society Limited; Mr. Cheung Kim Fung, Head of the Facility Management and Sustainable Development Department of Macao Science Center; Professor Liu Dahai of the School of Public Administration and Policy at Renmin University of China; Professor Shen Hongtao, Deputy Director of the Institute of Low Carbon and Sustainable Development at Jinan University; Mr. Kevin Wang, Director of the Carbon Finance Center of the Green Development Institute; Ms. Rebecca Shum, Secretary-General of Research Institute of the Greater Bay Area Carbon Neutrality Association; Mr. Chu Kar Kit, Energy Consultant at New Vector Engineering Design & Consultancy Company Limited; Ms. Xiao Shengjian, President of Beijing Chengming Private Equity Fund Management Co., Ltd.; and Associate Professor Dong Yahong, Director of the Macao Institute of Green and Net-Zero Technology, MUST.

The participants engaged in in-depth discussions on a range of topics, including the development of carbon-neutral campuses, low-carbon talent development, the alignment of standards across the Greater Bay Area, green finance, and campus carbon emissions accounting.

A key highlight of the events was the launch of the Greater Bay Area Standard of the Guidelines on Carbon Accounting for Campuses in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, led by MUST. The initiative marks a move towards a more standardized, systematic and coordinated approach to campus carbon emissions accounting across the Greater Bay Area. It also lays the groundwork for establishing common accounting criteria and a consistent framework to support the development of carbon-neutral campuses across the region.

Associate Professor Dong Yahong delivering her opening remarks

In her opening remarks, Associate Professor Dong Yahong, Director of the Macao Institute of Green and Net-Zero Technology at MUST, said that developing a carbon-neutral campus requires a systematic transformation of campus energy use, buildings, transportation and management. She noted that such efforts represent not only an important way for universities to fulfil their environmental responsibilities, but also a testing ground for technological innovation and a platform for talent development. She expressed the hope that campuses could serve as a starting point for connecting research, education and industry and for exploring a greener and more sustainable future.

The Greater Bay Area Carbon Neutral Campus Symposium was moderated by Mr. Cheung Kim Fung, Head of the Facility Management and Sustainable Development Department of Macao Science Center. The symposium featured three keynote presentations addressing low-carbon talent development, Greater Bay Area standards and green finance.

Mr. Cheung Kim Fung moderating the symposium

Professor Shen Hongtao, Deputy Director of the Institute of Low Carbon and Sustainable Development at Jinan University, delivered a keynote presentation entitled “Developing Low-Carbon Management Professionals”, in which she examined the current gap between supply and demand for low-carbon management professionals and outlined the competencies required in the field. Mr. Liu Jie, Deputy Director of the Guangdong Institute of Standardization, delivered a presentation entitled “Promoting Greater Bay Area Integration through ‘Greater Bay Area Standards’”. He provided an overview of the development of Greater Bay Area Standards and the pathways for their implementation. Mr. Kevin Wang, Director of the Carbon Finance Center of the Green Development Institute, delivered a keynote presentation entitled “Green Finance Supporting the Development of a Beautiful and Smart Macao”. He examined the role of green finance as a catalyst for low-carbon urban transformation.

(From left to right) Professor Shen Hongtao, Deputy Director Liu Jie, and Director Kevin Wang delivering their keynote presentation

Following the keynote speeches, the event proceeded to a panel discussion chaired by Professor Shen Hongtao. The panel brought together Mr. Ho Chi Shing, Chief Executive Officer of BEAM Society Limited; Professor Liu Dahai of the School of Public Administration and Policy at Renmin University of China; Mr. Liu Jie, Deputy Director of the Guangdong Institute of Standardization; Mr. Kevin Wang, Director of the Carbon Finance Center of the Green Development Institute; and Mr. Chu Kar Kit, Energy Consultant at New Vector Engineering Design & Consultancy Company Limited. The panelists exchanged views on pathways for developing carbon-neutral campuses and discussed how research, standards, finance and technological innovation could support the transition towards low-carbon campuses.

Expert panel discussion

The Kick-off Meeting and Panel Discussion for the “Guidelines on Carbon Accounting for Campuses in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” was subsequently held, chaired by Mr. Zhang Dingkang, Secretary-General of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Standardization Promotion Association. The meeting provided an overview of the development of the Guidelines, followed by an in-depth discussion among participating experts. Participants included Mr. Liu Jie, Deputy Director of the Guangdong Institute of Standardization; Ms. Xie Yunyan, Senior Engineer at the Standards and Information Center of the Guangdong Institute of Standardization; Mr. Ho Chi Shing, Chief Executive Officer of BEAM Society Limited; Professor Liu Dahai of the School of Public Administration and Policy at Renmin University of China; Mr. Kevin Wang, Director of the Carbon Finance Center of the Green Development Institute; Mr. Chu Kar Kit, Energy Consultant at New Vector Engineering Design & Consultancy Company Limited; Mr. Kou Tin Long, Researcher at the Carbon Finance Center of the Green Development Institute; Ms. Xiao Shengjian, President of Beijing Chengming Private Equity Fund Management Co., Ltd.; Associate Professor Dong Yahong, Director of the Macao Institute of Green and Net-Zero Technology; and Ms. Qiu Yu, PhD candidate at the Faculty of Innovation Engineering, among others.

Kick-off Meeting and Panel Discussion for the “Guidelines on Carbon Accounting for Campuses in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”

The experts shared recommendations on the proposed framework and key technical considerations, contributing their expertise to the standardization and systematic development of campus carbon emissions accounting across the Greater Bay Area. The events served not only as a professional dialogue across regions and disciplines, but also as a practical initiative to promote coordinated green development across the Greater Bay Area through common standards.

Through discussions on carbon-neutral campus development and campus carbon emissions accounting, participating experts reached broad agreement on the importance of using standards to guide emissions reduction and data to strengthen carbon governance. Their discussions also helped clarify the priorities and direction for the development of the Guidelines. The Guidelines are expected to help address differences in campus carbon accounting practices across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, thereby improving the comparability, verifiability and credibility of carbon emissions data. They will also provide an institutional foundation for low-carbon talent development, green finance and the application and commercialization of technology.

Looking ahead, MUST will leverage its strengths in cross-border research collaboration and talent development to use its campus as a demonstration site and testing ground for carbon neutrality. The University will continue to work with government agencies, universities, research institutions, standardization organizations and industry partners to promote the alignment of green and low-carbon standards and rules across the Greater Bay Area and foster collaborative innovation, thereby contributing more substantively and sustainably to the green transition of Macao and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.