4. How could Hong Kong be more sustainable?

Activity 1 - What is sustainability?

Activity Tasks

Define - On your own then with a partner, try to define the concept of ‘sustainability’. What does it mean for something to be considered sustainable? Write a definition in your own words.
Think/Pair/Share - What is urban sustainability? Is Hong Kong a sustainable urban city? Discuss your ideas with a partner before sharing with the class. Then try to negotiate a whole class definition. Try to steer discussion to use this definition below.
Mind Map - Using this worksheet or any suitable alternative, brainstorm examples of what a sustainable city might look like for each category of urban sustainability. For example, what might a sustainable environment look like in a city?
Watch - Watch this YouTube video about how to make cities more sustainable. Make a note of all the ways in which cities could be made more sustainable.
Discuss - Using the examples from what you have learnt today, discuss these questions in pairs then as a class:
1. Will urban sustainability ever be achieved on a global scale? How might it be achieved?
2. Is urban sustainability more easily achieved for a city located in the developed world?
3. Is urban sustainability easier for a smaller city to achieve than it is for a megacity to achieve?

Activity Tasks

Examine - Is Hong Kong a sustainable city? Examine the key features of a sustainable city on this worksheet. For each feature, rate Hong Kong on how sustainable you think it currently is. Try to think of an example for each feature.
Write - In your opinion, is Hong Kong a sustainable city? Write a paragraph explaining your view. Remember to refer to examples from your review sheet to help explain your opinion.

Activity Tasks

Examine - Your group now needs to explore what other cities around the world are doing to be more sustainable for your urbanisation issue. Spend 30-40 minutes viewing, listening and reading some of the following resources:
1. Watch - Ted Talk #1 Sharable Futures of Cities
2. Watch - Ted Talk #2 How Megacities are Changing the World
3. Watch - The Future of Cities Documentary
4. Listen - Sustainable Cities Podcast (#10)
5. Read - How London's Trees Help Boost the Local Economy
6. Read - How the Coronavirus Could Change City Planning
7. Read - Paris Mayor Pledges a Greener '15-Minute City'
8. Read - The Reality of Abu Dhabi's Unfinished Utopia
9. Read - The suburbs can help cities in the fight against climate change
Record - As a group, record your findings on a shared research log you’ve created or use this worksheet. Try to record specific quotes, data, information or anything else that could be used to pose a question to the class. Once you’ve finished, add a copy of this to your individual inquiry action plans.

Activity Tasks

Seminar - As a class, you will now conduct a Socratic Seminar on how Hong Kong could improve its urban sustainability. Your teacher will chair the seminar around these questions:
1. What urbanisation issues and problems are other cities facing?
2. What is preventing these cities from being more sustainable
3. What strategies and solutions have these cities introduced?
4. What ideas for solutions to your issue have you discovered?
Reflect - Using Flipgrid or any other method, reflect on how the seminar went using these focus questions:
1. At any point, did the seminar revert to something other than a dialogue? If so, how did the group handle this?
2. What evidence did you see of people actively listening and building on others' ideas?
3. How has your understanding of your urbanisation issue been affected by the ideas explored in this seminar?
4. What parts of the discussion did you find most interesting? In what parts were you least engaged?
5. What would you like to do differently as a participant the next time you are in a seminar?