ReThink HK spearheads collaborative sustainable development towards a climate-smart future for Hong Kong

Launched in the restrictive period of 2020, ReThink HK has since witnessed a phenomenal rise in sustainability consciousness among Hong Kong businesses. In its fifth edition this year, the ReThink Sustainable Business Forum & Solutions Expo has notched up a record number of participants, exploding by 15 times to over 8,000 this year. It is a widely-supported event that has successfully helped forge an environment of collaboration among stakeholders in their common goal of achieving carbon neutrality.

As Hong Kong’s best-attended and most ambitious business event for sustainable development, ReThink HK has assembled government officials, business leaders, sustainability practitioners and researchers. It has also attracted about 250 exhibiting companies to its Sustainable Solutions Expo last week at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the largest edition over five years.

The two-day event featured 120 sessions across eight themed conference theatres where over 500 renowned speakers shared their insights with businesses on how to adopt strategic frameworks for reaching the net-zero carbon emission goal.

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan pointed out in his keynote address that enterprises also play a key role in fostering innovation and investing in sustainable technologies, as the city faces challenges in space, technology breakthrough, financial support and other aspects.

Chris Brown, founder and chief executive of ReThink HK, noted that the transition towards sustainability is complicated and costly. So ReThink HK is, he said, a platform designed to bring the latest updates and insights about the sector. “Our goal is to help every Hong Kong business thrive, and not just survive, in the new green economy,” he emphasized.

As electrification of mobility is here to say, ReThink HK has added this year a Smart Mobility and Transportation Sector. The pioneering solutions to facilitate Hong Kong’s sustainable transportation goals were presented by 15 exhibitors and brands, including local power giant CLP and its partners from the eMobility Network which showcased one-stop solutions varying from power supply to green finance support services.

The ReThink HK event also highlighted the cross-sectoral partnerships within the Hong Kong sustainability ecosystem with eight pavilions and eight content-themed theatres, in which leading organizations and the co-organizer Business Environment Council united to facilitate open dialogue and knowledge sharing.

As progress towards reaching net zero may slow down due to geopolitical tensions and the costly transition, Brown emphasized the importance of ‘shared responsibility’. “There is no one partnership that could solve everything. To find out all effective solutions and strategies, businesses need to collaborate with their stakeholders, even their competitors,” he said.

Brown pointed out that ReThink HK is a unique annual event that helps organizations align sustainable business practices at every stage of their value chain, showcases innovation and solutions accelerating sustainable transformation. Furthermore, all delegate fees will be deployed on funding local impact projects with Hong Kong charities.

Looking ahead to the 2025 event, Brown reveals that ReThink HK will add a new sector for sustainable buildings and construction to decarbonize the sector which accounts for about 37 percent of global emissions. He underscores the ReThink Foundation’s dedication to expanding the impact of sustainability development by uniting the ecosystem so that all stakeholders and communities can contribute and look forward to a climate-smart and equitable city for everyone.