Secretary General Professor Huang Jiefang delivered the opening remarks, welcomed participants, highlighting the AAIL’s commitment to education and knowledge sharing. The event was moderated by Mr Adrian Lai JP, Deputy Secretary General; speakers included: Professor Leung Wing mo, Former Assistant Director of Hong Kong Observatory, Ms Vivi Hu, CEO of YoujiVest, and Dr Anthony Neoh SC JP, Co-Chairman of AAIL.

Professor Leung Wing mo addressed the role of science in tackling climate change. He described science as the backbone of climate knowledge, shifting from intuition to evidence based action. Leung dismantled widespread climate denial claims by showing the scientific proof of human driven CO₂ emissions using isotopic evidence. He emphasised that trust in climate science rests on the scientific process and peer correction, even though past scientific beliefs (such as ether or geocentrism) were later disproven. Reviewing the IPCC’s findings, he highlighted the dramatic differences between 1.5°C and 2°C of warming: far higher risks of extreme heat, coral reef collapse, and mass species loss. He warned of non linear impacts, tipping points, and the near certainty of breaching 1.5°C by 2029. His conclusion: we must ‘live the life we believe’, aligning personal actions with scientific understanding.

Ms Vivi Hu, discussed the application of AI and data in climate risk management. She noted $368 billion in economic losses from natural disasters in 2024 and stressed financial regulators’ increasing requirements for climate risk disclosure (HKMA stress testing, SEC rules, ISSB standards). Demonstrating YoujiVest’s Climate Risk Modelling System (CRMS), she explained how AI integrated satellite imaging, hazard data, and financial metrics to simulate Expected Annual Impact under scenarios from IPCC’s SSPs to NGFS pathways. Case studies included asset level valuation, U.S. wildfire projections, and catastrophe bond pricing (e.g. Hurricane Milton in Florida). She stressed that AI provided granular, building level analysis at 5m × 5m resolution, supporting banks, insurers, and corporates in pricing risks, complying with disclosure rules, and identifying sustainable opportunities.

Dr Anthony Neoh SC JP examined the international legal framework and governance dimension. He outlined the evolution from the UNFCCC to Kyoto, Paris, and Glasgow, describing climate action as a global risk management exercise. He emphasised that international treaties guide States, while regulatory standards (IFRS S1/S2, CSRD, SEC climate disclosure rules) push companies towards accountability and assurance. He underlined Hong Kong’s role as a regional green finance hub, referencing its taxonomy, government green bonds, and 45% share of Asia’s cross border sustainable debt. Neoh stressed that global cooperation must be reinforced by data integrity, AI systems, and rigorous disclosures to bridge the emission gap.

In closing, the seminar underscored the essential interplay of science, AI, and law. Science identifies the risks, AI translates them into tangible economic terms, and international law provides the cooperative framework. Together, they form the pillars for confronting the accelerating climate crisis.