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The Environment
Nowcasting designated by the World Meteorological Organisation, also shared its award- winning nowcasting software, Swirls, with overseas weather services to foster the development and enhancement of forecast and warning services related to high-impact weather.
Public Education and Engagement
The Observatory promotes awareness of hazardous weather and the effects of climate change. and radiation. It launched a new set of TV and radio clips on storm surges in November to raise awareness of disaster prevention. The Observatory mascot, Dr Tin, made his first appearance on the TV clips.
The Observatory conducts school talks on climate change, and publishes articles and the latest international research findings about global climate change on its website. In March, the Observatory released a new song, Climate and Life, jointly produced with a local singer. It also worked with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department during the year to publish a book titled Climate Change and Biodiversity in Hong Kong, and collaborated with the Ho Koon centre to produce a curriculum-based climate change education package for secondary schools. The Observatory's 'Science in Public Service' campaign and Community Weather Information Network served to engage students and young people through outreach events including workshops on building community weather stations. It provided meteorological data to students from the School of Creative Media at the City University of Hong Kong to create sculptures, movies, animations and other works that demonstrated the power of extreme weather.
Volunteers from 'Friends of the Observatory, with more than 13,400 members, support public education events organised by the Observatory, including by conducting public tours at the Observatory headquarters.
Government Laboratory
The Government Laboratory supports the enforcement of environmental protection legislation and implementation of environmental programmes by providing analytical and advisory services. It conducts tests on environmental samples to furnish these programmes with the necessary data. The laboratory also offers analytical services for chemicals regulated under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
Websites
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department: www.afcd.gov.hk
Civil Engineering and Development Department: www.cedd.gov.hk
Council for Sustainable Development: www.enb.gov.hk/en/susdev/council/index.htm Electrical and Mechanical Services Department: www.emsd.gov.hk
Environment Bureau: www.enb.gov.hk
Environmental Protection Department: www.epd.gov.hk
Climate Ready: www.climateready.gov.hk
Low Carbon Living Calculator: www.carboncalculator.gov.hk Harbour Area Treatment Scheme: www.cleanharbour.gov.hk Hong Kong Observatory: www.hko.gov.hk
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