China's rapid economic growth is both the envy of the world and a source of concern to those who live at the heart of its industrial development. Hong Kong and the rest of the region around the Pearl River Delta are at "ground zero" of this economic explosion. Two critical factors have emerged as potential bottlenecks for sustaining this development: energy and the environment. HKUST has the largest concentration of top researchers working on the scientific and engineering aspects of sustainable development in the region, offering a range of teaching and research programs in support of the quest for cost-effective solutions to the challenge of supporting environmentally responsible economic growth. It was the first university in Hong Kong to champion the cause of sustainable development, establishing its Institute for Environment and Sustainable Development in 1997. In helping to achieve the vision of sustainable development for Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta, HKUST will assist governments to make sound policy decisions on the environment by developing a comprehensive monitoring program that identifies the major air and water pollutants, specifies their sources, and tracks their dispersion.

Applied research and development in the HKUST environmental programs will be directed towards the optimum use of modern technology for pollution abatement, waste management, and green material production. In the areas of energy HKUST researchers will identify and develop clean and efficient alternatives for energy production that can sustain development while reducing environmental impacts. With solutions to these challenges, the Pearl River Delta region will continue to fuel the unprecedented development of China into an economic superpower while improving the quality of life of its citizens.