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The recent 2025 Policy Address mentioned that over HK$100 million funding is allocated to support projects of local universities in aerospace science and technology. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has been awarded HK$18.99 million through the “Innovation and Technology Support Programme Special Call on Aerospace Technology” to support its pioneering carbon satellite research project. This funding underscores CUHK’s prominent role in driving innovation in aerospace technology and contributing to the development of smart city.

The awarded project is titled “Integration of Carbon Satellite Remote Sensing and Modeling for High Accuracy Greenhouse Gas Monitoring and Source Identification”. Professor Kwan Mei-po, the project coordinator, Director of Institute of Space and Earth Information Science at CUHK, and Choh-Ming Li Professor of Geography and Resource Management, said: “We are delighted that the government strongly supports aerospace technology. CUHK has long been committed to this field, and this funding enables us to advance cutting-edge satellite environmental research in Hong Kong. By establishing a high-performance satellite data hub, we will lay a crucial scientific foundation for climate action, urban innovation, and disaster response. It also marks an important step toward global sustainable development.”

Professor Ma Peifeng, the research team member and Associate Professor in CUHK’s Department of Geography and Resource Management, said: “Our research integrates advanced satellite remote sensing technology, simulation models, and artificial intelligence to provide accurate and practical greenhouse gas emission data. This not only deepens scientific understanding but also supports policy-making and planning in Hong Kong and globally.”

This research project is an interdisciplinary collaboration between CUHK’s Department of Geography and Resource Management and the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering. Professor Ren Wei, the research team member and Assistant Dean (Research) of CUHK’s Faculty of Engineering, said: “We have successfully applied CUHK-owned laser spectroscopy technology to high-precision ground-based observations of carbon dioxide and methane, and innovatively combined it with a mobile monitoring vehicle to achieve dynamic monitoring and precise tracing of greenhouse gases.”

The project focuses on advancing next-generation carbon satellite remote sensing and chemical modelling technologies to monitor greenhouse gas concentrations, specifically carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄), at both global and hotspot scales. Through the integration of satellite data, artificial intelligence and ground-based observations, the research will enhance the accuracy and resolution of greenhouse gas monitoring, providing vital scientific evidence about carbon sources and emissions.

A major outcome of the project will be the establishment of Hong Kong’s first satellite data hub with capabilities that meets national and international research standards. It will serve as critical infrastructure supporting research and decision-making in areas such as carbon neutrality, smart city development, natural disaster monitoring and sustainable development. The establishment will address Hong Kong’s gaps in data and infrastructure, providing high-quality satellite data to researchers, policymakers and industry professionals, thereby strengthening Hong Kong’s leadership in global climate and satellite science.