Sustainability

We are committed to enhancing liveability for a sustainable future. We strengthen the capacity of the non-profit sector in energy conservation, while supporting innovative and scalable solutions for decarbonisation, waste reduction and the protection of local biodiversity and habitats to build a more climate-resilient Hong Kong.

Building a liveable Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a city of contrasts—a metropolis famed for its towering skyscrapers and packed urban sprawl, yet also a treasure trove of natural wonders. Beyond the city’s concrete jungle lies some of the most biodiverse territory in the world, where a remarkable range of wildlife and plants are to be found in country parks, mountain ranges, and more than 1,000km of rugged coastline.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has long been committed to preserving these natural havens and protecting their biodiversity. Our environmental journey has spanned four decades, beginning with our support for Hong Kong’s centres of ecological protection and animal rescue, including Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, a vital hub for local ecology; the internationally renowned Mai Po Nature Reserve; and Ocean Park, an oceanarium where many Hong Kong people first discover the wonders of the ocean. We have committed to our core belief: Urban development and nature can coexist harmoniously for the benefit of all.

Four decades of green endeavours

We have worked extensively with stakeholders for many years to safeguard the city's natural heritage. We supported the construction of Ocean Park when it opened in 1977 and subsequently its first decade of operations. Since then, we have remained a long-term partner, contributing to the park’s work in conservation and education.

In 2024, to welcome a pair of giant pandas gifted by the central government to Hong Kong, we funded the expansion of the giant panda habitat, upgrading Giant Panda Adventure and Hong Kong Jockey Club Sichuan Treasures attractions to provide a safe and more natural living habitat for giant pandas living in Ocean Park. This initiative also provides extra funding so that underprivileged students can experience the wonder of seeing giant pandas up close.

At Mai Po Nature Reserve, our partnership with World Wide Fund for Nature-Hong Kong (WWF-Hong Kong) began in the early 1980s with our support for the establishment of Mai Po Wildlife Education Centre and Nature Reserve. Over the years, we have funded infrastructure enhancements, such as WWF Jockey Club Mai Po Peter Scott Visitor Centre, to solidify its role as a key conservation and education hub. “Mai Po is not only a nature reserve but also an education centre. We hope to preserve it and help the public better understand it,” says Nicole Wong, Chief Executive Officer of WWF-Hong Kong.

In 2018, we also supported the creation of Jockey Club Nature Conservation Centre at Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden. Replacing a 1960s-era building, the new centre now serves as a vibrant hub for environmental conservation, sustainable living and nature education. In later years, we have helped upgrade its infrastructure, enhancing educational and training facilities for students, the public and international researchers.

Since 1983, we have supported more than 120 sustainability initiatives—from energy saving and carbon reduction, environmental protection, to the development of educational programmes. These efforts provide a foundation for addressing climate risks and build valuable experience and partnerships for our future projects.

Mai Po is not only a nature reserve but also an education centre. We hope to preserve it and help the public better understand it.

Nicole Wong, Chief Executive Officer of WWF-Hong Kong

Carbon reduction in schools and the welfare sector

To help achieve Hong Kong’s climate goals, we are working hand in hand with the non-profit sector to reduce carbon emissions and their impact on the environment. Our recent initiatives, therefore, focus on energy saving and decarbonisation.

Working with Business Environment Council Limited, BEAM Society Limited and Hong Kong Green Building Council, we launched the three-year Jockey Club BEAM Plus in Schools Project in 2020 and the five-year Jockey Club Energy Saver in Schools Project in 2023 to promote energy efficiency. The initiative will carry out energy-efficient retrofitting works in schools participating in the scheme, including upgrades to air-conditioning systems and lighting installations. In parallel, it also introduced a series of educational programmes to help students and teachers from over 200 schools better understand green building concepts.

S.K.H. St. Clement's Primary School was the project's first participating school. Vice-Principal Wong Ka-leong notes, “Showing students how this carbon reduction project directly lowers their school's electricity bills is a great way to get them excited about saving energy. It is also a chance to teach them why living a low-carbon life matters and to encourage them to think of innovative ways to conserve energy.”

Beyond the school sector, many social welfare organisations also struggle with carbon reduction. Their buildings and operations contribute substantially to Hong Kong's overall carbon emissions, yet they often lack the resources and expertise to address these challenges effectively. To help bridge this gap, we have supported four local non-profits since 2023 in upgrading their facilities, including replacing energy-efficient air conditioning systems, upgrading LED lighting equipment, and installing smart energy monitoring and solar power generation systems. These upgrades are projected to reduce electricity consumption by 15 to 20%, setting a benchmark for broader social welfare sector decarbonisation.

Green tech for social welfare

Technology is essential for more efficient carbon reduction and a green transition of social services, leading to lower long-term operating costs. To that end, we launched the JC Green Horsepower initiative to promote green transport in the social welfare sector. We have already supported 10 agencies—including those operating in ecologically-sensitive areas or serving people with disabilities—in phasing out fossil fuel vehicles and switching to electric vehicles, contributing to Hong Kong's carbon neutrality goals. In 2025, we expanded our support by allocating funding to Vocational Training Council for the transformation of its Jockey Club Heavy Vehicle Emissions Testing and Research Centre into a new energy vehicle testing and research centre. This centre will provide professional technical support and consulting services, tackling the hurdles the social welfare sector encounters with new energy vehicles and facilitating the broader and more effective adoption of these technologies.

In addition, to promote a green transition in elderly care, we initiated a project in 2023 at Chi Lin Care and Attention Home, one of Hong Kong’s largest elderly care facilities managed by Chi Lin Nunnery. We carried out an evaluation study and supported a facility upgrade, serving as a sustainable model for other residential care homes. The upgrades feature a range of innovative technologies to enhance energy efficiency, indoor air quality and infection control, creating a comfortable and environmentally friendly living space for the residents.

Technology is also playing an increasingly important role in ecological conservation. Our latest donation to WWF-Hong Kong in 2025 will help modernise its wetland management in Mai Po Nature Reserve through smart monitoring technologies, including AI-powered wildlife tracking systems, smart sluice gates and water pump systems, and a digital management platform. These innovations will foster the conservation synergy between Mai Po and the Greater Bay Area's wetland systems, promoting long-term biodiversity development in the region. The project will also establish a nature-based solutions learning centre to introduce this conservation concept to the community.

Green technology is also making its way into sports facilities. The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course in Sai Kung offers a greener experience thanks to two forward-thinking renewable energy projects. In 2009, the course became the first golf facility in the world to install its fleet of golf carts with solar panels. And in 2024, it added a floating solar photovoltaic system to its irrigation reservoir.

A liveable Hong Kong for all

The above measures demonstrate our years of effort in sustainable development. However, intensifying climate change and more frequent extreme weather events—"black rainstorms", super typhoons, and record heat—warn us that much more needs to be done in the face of this potential new normal. These events are already affecting every resident across the city, with vulnerable groups hit especially hard due to limited resources. We must take immediate action to prepare for the pressing challenges brought by climate change.

As Wong Kam-sing, former Secretary for the Environment, notes, “Strong support from institutions like The Hong Kong Jockey Club in public education and community engagement is vital to advancing decarbonisation and building climate resilience.”

“The growing disconnect between people and nature is now widely recognised as a fundamental driver of the sustainability crisis. In this context, The Hong Kong Jockey Club's support for countryside conservation and rural revitalisation initiatives can play a key role in helping communities reconnect with nature and rediscover traditional ecological wisdom,” he further adds.

Looking ahead, we will strengthen our climate adaptation efforts by building on experience, exploring innovative solutions, and collaborating closely with all stakeholders in society. Our goal is to ensure that all 7.5 million Hong Kong residents—and future generations—can thrive and grow in a safe, liveable Hong Kong, and together create a brighter future.