YEA 5th Edition, Day 1: Icebreakers, Megawatt and Climate Fresk
On 21 July, the newest cohort of the Hong Kong 2050 is Now Young Environment Ambassador (YEA) Programme returned to the Hong Kong Maritime Museum for their first full training day, diving straight into climate science and energy generation through hands-on, game-based learning.
The day began with an icebreaker session, giving our new ambassadors the chance to get to know one another before the more structured learning began. Participants then took on the Megawatt session, a strategic board game centred on constructing an electricity grid. Players explored various energy sources, from traditional fossil fuels like coal and gas to renewables such as wind, solar and hydroelectric power, and had to weigh cost, reliability and emissions when deciding how to power their grid. Through this simulation, students gained a hands-on appreciation of just how complex real-world decarbonisation decisions can be. The game not only helped enrich the students' learning experience, but also fostered team bonding and social connections. One of our YEA participants would quote “I now know that there are many different countries in the world adopting varies of energy source to avoid the reliance on a single energy which would cause a major flaw in the energy grid.”
A short talk on decarbonisation strategies across different sectors was given by Kitty Tam, Programme Lead at Civic Exchange, and Damon Lee, our Research Assistant. The talk highlighted key carbon-emitting sectors in Hong Kong, such as buildings and transport, and students took part in a short quiz that helped raise their awareness of potential solutions for reducing carbon emissions. Drawing on the talk, students came away with a clearer scientific grounding to carry into the afternoon.
After lunch, the group settled in for an extended session of Climate Fresk, the internationally recognised card-based workshop that guides participants through the causes and consequences of climate change. We thank the Climate Fresk Hong Kong team for coming to guide this insightful workshop. Working in small teams, the ambassadors pieced together the causal links between greenhouse gas emissions, rising temperatures and their wide-ranging impacts, before reflecting together on what meaningful climate action could look like. Our dedicated facilitators also helped clarify the intricate connections between human activities and environmental impacts. Most students shared their reflections at the end of the session, describing the insights they had gained — a clear sign that the activity was both memorable and accessible to them. One of our YEA participants would quote “I felt scared and worried when picturing the links on the relationship map, I never thought so deeply that the connection of many climate events could eventually link back to human activities”
Throughout the day, students actively engaged with their peers and received guidance from our programme helpers, enriching their learning experience and fostering teamwork. The enthusiasm and curiosity they demonstrated underscored the exciting journey ahead.
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