From June 5 to 6, 2026, the International Symposium on Urban Climate and Environment, co-hosted by the Chinese Alliance for Urban Climate and Environment (CHANCE) and the Chinese Meteorological Society, was successfully held at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). With the theme "From Mechanisms to Practical Applications", the symposium brought together experts and scholars from universities, research institutions, and government agencies around the world to discuss challenges and response strategies in the field of urban climate and environment. The symposium aimed to advance fundamental and applied research in urban climate and environment, promote international academic collaboration, cultivate the next generation of research talent, and enhance public awareness and action on urban climate issues.

Professor Jimmy Chi Hung FUNG, Associate Provost (Teaching & Learning) of the HKUST, delivered the opening remarks, in which he elaborated on the development prospects and challenges in the field of urban climate and introduced the strong support that the HKUST has provided for the advancement of this field.

Ms. Jingyu BAI, Deputy Secretary of the Chinese Meteorological Society, delivered a speech in which she expressed that the Chinese Meteorological Society advocates for global experts to promote the deep integration of theory and practice in urban climate science, strengthen international cooperation, and jointly address urban climate challenges.

Professor Fei CHEN introduced and emphasized the significant importance of the CHANCE to the development of the urban climate field and expressed his joy, support, and future expectations for the establishment of the alliance.

Professor Jiachuan YANG, on behalf of the alliance, provided a detailed introduction to CHANCE's founding vision, mission, past activities, and future prospects, and formally announced the establishment of the alliance.

Committee group photo: Professor Jiachuan YANG, Professor Dan LI, Professor Ning ZHANG, and Dr. Shiguang MIAO (online).

Group photo of the committee and guests:

The symposium invited several internationally renowned scholars to deliver keynote speeches:
1) Academician Yongjiu DAI and Associate Professor Hua YUAN, Sun Yat-sen University. Presentation title: Urban Land Surface Modeling in Global Climate Simulations.

2) Professor Yuguo LI, The University of Hong Kong. Presentation title: We probably cannot stop urban warming: what should we do instead?

3) Professor Edward NG, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Presentation title: How to make relevant what we know?

4) Professor Elie BOU-ZEID, Princeton University. Presentation title: AI for Prediction and Characterization of Heat and Air Quality in Cities.

Scholars from universities around the world delivered high-quality oral and poster presentations, covering cutting-edge topics such as the urban heat island, extreme precipitation, wind environment modeling, artificial intelligence applications, and unmanned aerial vehicle observations.

Photos from oral sessions:

Photos from poster sessions:

In 2026, the CHANCE officially established the"CHANCE Rising Scholar Award" and the "CHANCE Distinguished Contribution Award," aiming to recognize the exceptional contributions of young scholars and senior scientists in scientific exploration, academic innovation, policy practice, and community building.

The inaugural "CHANCE Rising Scholar Award" was presented to Associate Professor Weilin LIAO and Researcher Lin PEI:

Weilin LIAO (Sun Yat-sen University)
In recognition of his contributions to bridging urban geographic space and climate science, as well as his leadership role in advancing the development of the CHANCE community.

Lin PEI (Institute of Urban Meteorology, Beijing)
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to developing convection-permitting urban climate models and translating research findings into practical applications.

The inaugural "CHANCE Distinguished Contribution Award" was presented to Professor Fei CHEN:

Fei CHEN (HKUST)
In recognition of his visionary leadership in the development of urban land surface and climate models, as well as his sustained mentorship and influence on multiple generations of researchers.

Group photo of the award recipients with the CHANCE committee：

At the conclusion of the symposium, Professor Jiachuan YANG, on behalf of the CHANCE, expressed his gratitude to all participants, organizers, and volunteers for their enthusiastic engagement and dedicated efforts. He also encouraged scholars from around the world to actively participate in and jointly build the CHANCE academic network, so as to promote exchange, collaboration, and mutual benefit in the field.

This symposium was not only an academic feast but also an important milestone for the CHANCE alliance in advancing international exchange and cooperation in the field of urban climate and environment. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with colleagues from all sectors in future events to jointly promote theoretical innovation and practical implementation of urban climate and environmental science.