Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong (CYMCA) started to concern on the world environmental problems in 1990’s under the platform of the Council of YMCAs of Hong Kong. We established the “Earth Corps” and orgsnised various green activities and projects in the schools. The publication “Grass-Roots was published for over 10 years as well as arranging youth foreign exchange trip every year. CYMCA then organized her environmental working group focusing on environmental education and social service units.

In 2010, CYMCA established the “YMCA Environmental Working Group” including both the social service units, schools, hostels, administration supports (Property Branch, Knowledge Management etc) extending our concern on green audit, energy consumption and community involvement.

The working group developed environmental guideline and Unit Environmental Quality Standard for the organization and all service units. We also assess the electricity usage of all YMCA units every year to meet the aim of reducing 1% electricity annually (or 5% in 5 years) staring from 2011 to 2016, and 2016 to 2021. Furthermore, we value the staff development and training by organizing various green training and exposure opportunities. Staffs are also encouraged to join the green activities of other green NGOs and parties.

We successfully organized a large-scale environmental project called “PROJECT ZERO” sponsoring by the Chief Executive Community Project. PROJECT ZERO rearranged 10 Wu Kai Sha camp cottages becoming “Zero Carbon Cottage”, established interactive educational centre and became the first “ZERO CARBON” green campsite. Two CYMCA hostels (Cityview and Harbourview) look forward to move on the road of sustainable hostels and got different green certificates and recognition.

Working Group stresses the green awareness and education of the youths. Starting from 2012, CYMCA advocated to set 1th June to be “No plastic Bottle Day”. It encouraged the schools, organisations, enterprises and citizens to reduce the frequency of buying disposable plastic bottle drinks. “1 Person 1 Bottle” and “bring your own bottle” is the green trend to save the environment. It lasted for 7 years and renamed to be “No Plastic Hong Kong (NPHK) to include the concern of all plastic waste.

Moreover, we organized youth exchange green trip to develop their green mission every year like Singapore, Malaysia and Taipei. The youths become our strong volunteer workforce to support CYMCA environmental projects like NOPB, 10 Most Important Green News Election (2012 and 2013).
Recently, we started “Waste Reducation@Campus” Project in 2015-2017 to recruit over 80 schools having waste audit, “Waste to Gold” Flea Market, product upcycling and “Creative Waste Reduction ideas Award Scheme”.

Another green project called “How to Dump Less, Save More” was finished in 2017-2018 to arouse the awareness of the municipal solid waste charging. In 2019 to 2021, the working group started another project “No Plastic Ocean” to educate the primary school students on ocean pollution. In 2020, we organised “Plastic Free Hong Kong: 7 Days Challenge” to encourage plastic free actions. In 2021, the theme of “Plastic Free Hong Kong” is Plastic Free Green Outing and the signature programme is “Plastic Free Cycling Tour”..