CUHK-University of Exeter Joint Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Resilience (ENSURE)

First phase (2019-2023): 

Between 2018 and 2023, ENSURE facilitated three workshops and symposia in Hong Kong and at our Exeter and Cornwall campuses, convening leading academics across the disciplinary spectrum to help model comprehensive approaches to the climate crisis. ENSURE also supported five large-scale, multi-year collaborative projects during this phase, tacking issues ranging from climate change to air pollution, urban sustainability, rock glaciers and forestry management (read more). 

 
Global Food Security, Climate Change and Resilience: An International Perspective 

• (Jan 2019-Dec 2022) 
• Project Coordinators: Prof. Hon-Ming Lam, Director, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology (CUHK), and Dr. Catherine Caine, Lecturer, Law School (Exeter) 
• Project Aim: To examine the inter-relationship between agricultural intensification, consumers’ diets/food choice, and human health with the aim of developing policies which will alleviate climate change and minimise environmental impacts.

Transboundary Air Pollution in China and the UK: Intensity, Attribution and Impacts 

• (Jan 2019-Jul 2021) 
• Project Pis: Prof. Steve Yim*, Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Resource Management (CUHK), and Prof. Jim Haywood, Professor of Atmospheric Science, Department of Mathematics (Exeter) 
• Project Aim: To gain a better understanding about emissions, chemical transformations, and deposition rates of air pollutants and the resultant population exposures and health impact. 

Sustainability of Coastal Megalopolises in the Face of Global Environmental Change: China’s Greater Bay Area 

• Jan 2019-Dec 2020 
• Project Pis: Prof. Joe Lee, Co-Director, ENSURE (CUHK), and Prof. Brendan Godley, Professor of Conservation Science, College of Life and Environmental Sciences (Exeter) 
• Project Aim: To study the capacity of coastal ecosystems in the Greater Bay Area to provide critical services that sustain human livelihood, health, and wellbeing with a view to developing a framework to inform development in other coastal mega-cities. 

Hydrological Significance of Rock Glaciers: Potential Water Resources in a Warming Climate 

• (May 2021-Apr 2023) 
• Project Pis: Prof. Lin Liu, Associate Professor, Earth System Science Programme (CUHK), and Prof. Stephan Harrison, Professor of Climate and Environmental Change, Department of Geography (Exeter) 
• Project Aim: To assess rock glaciers as a potential water resource by developing climate projections and a hydrological model to understand their future behaviour. 

Global Forest Management to Reap Triple Benefits for Economy, Health, and Climate 

• (May 2021-Apr 2023) 
• Project Pis: Prof. Amos Tai, Associate Professor, Earth System Science Programme (CUHK), and Prof. Stephen Sitch, Chair in Climate Change, Department of Geography 
• Project Aim: To evaluate different approaches of implementing large-scale tree-planting programmes in China and the UK, considering all pros and cons to reduce trade-offs to ensure co-benefits for human health, economic opportunities, social equity and climate resilience. 

Second phase (2023-present): 

From 2024, ENSURE is supporting a range of Grand Challenge initiatives, addressing key environmental themes allied with the UN SDGs. Grand Challenge themes include: 

• Sustainable biodiversity and societal benefit 
• Climate extremes in the developing world and regional economies 
• Ecosystem-based solutions to climate change 
• Sustainable energy systems 
• Food and water security for vulnerable communities 
• Behavioural changes across the food-water-energy nexus 

From March-July 2024, ENSURE supported four Initiator Projects under the Grand Challenges banner. Details of these projects can be found below. 

ENSURE Plant Science Programme 

• March – July 2024 
• Project PIs:  Dr Hans-Wilhelm Nützmann (Biosciences, the University of Exeter) and Associate Professor TF Chan (School of Life Sciences, CUHK) 
• Project Aim: This project will bring together scientists working on plants across different scales and faculties at the University of Exeter and the Chinese University of Hong Kong to establish a joint plant science programme. The programme will focus on the three interactive areas: Plant- Environment Interactions for Plant Health, Data Science and Modelling for the Prediction of Plant Adaptations to Changing Climates and Genomics and Epigenomics for Food Security and Biodiversity. 

Investigating Nature Based Solutions for Climate, Air Pollution and Health: Co-benefits, health inequalities and future research directions  

• March – July 2024 
• Project PIs:  Professor Shelly Lap-Ah TSE (Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, CUHK) and Dr Hanbin Zhang (Environment and Health at the European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter).
• Project Aim: Nature-based solutions (NbS) can help mitigate and adapt to the challenges which climate and environmental changes posed on human health and well-being. While this is becoming a popular area of research in Western Europe, it may encounter challenges and new opportunities in subtropical Asian cities like Hong Kong. Such challenges may include high-rising building, more frequent extreme weather events like heavy rainfall/typhoon, and cultural differences. This project will benchmark existing knowledge in terms of NbS on climate and health in Europe and in Hong Kong, review and assess challenges and opportunities for implementing NbS in Hong Kong, identify feasible and effective NbS in Hong Kong and in Southwest England, exchange knowledge through a symposium with stakeholders including researchers on this project, industry partners, NGOs and community members and explore future collaboration opportunities. 

Evaluating the Environmental Impacts of Geothermal Energy Exploration through an Integrative Biogeochemical and Geophysical Approach 

• March – July 2024 
• Project PIs:  Assistant Professor Yan Zhan (Earth and Environmental Sciences Programme, CUHK) and Dr James Hickey (Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter) 
• Project Aim: This project constitutes a comprehensive study designed to evaluate the environmental impacts of geothermal energy exploitation. It merges multidisciplinary techniques encompassing field sampling, laboratory experiments, numerical modelling, and geophysical monitoring, to understand the interactions between geothermal energy extraction and subsurface biogeochemical processes. 

The next-generation probiotics for marine bivalve aquaculture  

• March – July 2024 
• Project PIs: Associate Professor Haiwei Luo (School of Life Sciences, CUHK), and Dr Robert Ellis (Biosciences, University of Exeter) 
• Project Aim: Microbial therapies are currently one of the only sustainable, and fully customizable, medicines being explored for use in seafood aquaculture, representing a nature-based solution to environmental stress and disease challenges that currently threaten this industry. The efficacy of probiotics in promoting health and preventing mortality has been demonstrated for farmed species including bivalves (e.g., oysters, mussels, scallops). This project will bring together an international team to build on our significant success culturing putative next-generation marine probiotics, using these bacteria as powerful probiotics in laboratory trials. Here, we will expand their isolation from a broader range of hosts and from diverse environments, and validate their efficacy through laboratory exposure experiments, facilitating their employment for commercial and climate change applications in the real world. 

In September 2024, ENSURE launched a second call for applications through the Main Grant phase of the Grand Challenges scheme. This call will support substantive new collaborations running from January 2025 until January 2027. We expect to fund up to two Grand Challenge Main Grants, valued at up to £100,000 per year for two years (jointly funded between CUHK and Exeter). Applicants will furthermore be asked to demonstrate evidence of committed match funding from other sources. Applications will be asked to address at least one of the Grand Challenges themes as well as show clear alignment to one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, a commitment to impact and scalability. 

Please visit the Global Partnerships funding pages for further information. 

From September 2025, ENSURE will launch a new split-site PhD programme, designed to nurture and support the next generation of researchers working under the themes of sustainability and resilience. Under the new split-site PhD programme, students homed at both the University of Exeter and CUHK will have the opportunity to spend up to 12 months at the partner institution under a co-supervision arrangement. 

Detailed information the programme, including funding support and application processes will be announced in Autumn 2024, following announcement of successful ENSURE Grand Challenges Main Grant project awards.