In an article on Mainland China’s improved air quality during its earlier lockdown, Assistant Professor HE Guojun from the Division of Environment & Sustainability (ENVR) said while lockdowns could bring short-term positive health impacts, the long-term health costs arising from limited health care access for chronic patients during the lockdown is also significant. His earlier research published in Nature Sustainability which estimated that about 24,000 to 36,000 premature deaths caused by air pollution may have been delayed due to the lockdowns was also cited.

Prof. Christine LOH, Chief Development Strategist of Division of Environment & Sustainability (ENVR) wrote an article on why it is important for US to understand and not dismiss China’s differences amid the rise of Asia.

In an article on the rise of US stocks despite its struggling economy, Prof. Michael EDESESS, Adjunct Associate Professor of the Division of Environment & Sustainability (ENVR) said it was due to the return of profits of a few enormous and prosperous listed firms, of which many kept wages low by using gig workers, which eventually would hurt economic growth.

Prof. Christine LOH, Chief Development Strategist of Division of Environment & Sustainability (ENVR) commented in an article on US’s pandemic situation, saying US government’s anti-pandemic measures are seriously lagging behind those rolled out by Asian counterparts.

Prof. Donald LOW, Senior Lecturer of Division of Public Policy (PPOL), commented on the change of the complexion of Singapore’s PAP-dominated democratic politics since the opposition party making historic gains in the election, saying it is a step towards establishing the norms of a fairer, more contestable political system in the country.

Prof. Edwin LAI of Division of Public Policy, said in an article on the sanctions battle between China and US that China is disadvantaged in the sanctions game because its payment system is underdeveloped and RMB’s full internationalization is decades away.

Prof. Christine LOH, Chief Development Strategist of the Division of Environment & Sustainability (ENVR) wrote an article on the proposed municipal solid waste bill, which she thinks the bill should be tackled by the LegCo without further delay.

Mr. Donald LAI, an alumnus of MPhil in Environmental Science, Policy and Management (ESPM), shared his journey of becoming a local scientist in Hong Kong at Hong Kong Economic Journal. (Subscription Required)
// 香港地缺乏科研人才……真是香港出世、長大，再由本地學校培育出來的科學家，鳳毛麟角。
「普遍香港學生為了考高分而讀書，死記爛背，補習狂操past paper，導致培養不到對未來的啟發，間接對本地科研造成障礙。」100%土炮黎裕德（Donald）不僅是少數的例外，現在也為對抗新冠肺炎而出心出力。新冠肺炎第三波肆虐香江，人人自恐，各公司都想盡辦法潔淨工作環境，務求讓打工仔做得安心，故此身為科學家的黎裕德，連月來要四出奔波，有時留在實驗室的時間比留在辦公室的時間更少……他在碩士畢業後成為捷和實業的項目工程師，並在公司支援下留在母校香港科技大學的實驗室，延續科研夢，其有份參與的智能抗菌塗層技術Germagic更在疫境下炙手可熱。// (節錄)

Prof. Kai Lung HUI, Co-Director of Dual Degree Program, wrote an article discussing whether employees should work from home when the typhoon no. 8 signal is hoisted. Under the pandemic, home office became a new normal for many people. Therefore, relevant government departments, employers and employees, as well as the general public, must come together and discuss so as to reach a common consensus.

HKUST launches HK’s largest solar power system which involves the installation of up to 8,000 solar panels at over 50 locations on campus. The system will generate 3 million units (kWh) of electricity and help reduce 1.5 million kg of carbon emission each year, bringing an income of around HK$160 million out of CLP's FiT scheme over the next 13 years.