Photos capturing Antarctica are displayed in the "Climate Witness: Changing Polar Landscapes" multimedia exhibition, at Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, in Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, Dec 16, 2023. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – A collection of photos and videos capturing the changing Antarctic landscapes is on view at a university museum in Hong Kong, putting a spotlight on the impact of climate change on the southernmost region’s delicate ecosystems.

Themed “Climate Witness: Changing Polar Landscapes”, a multimedia exhibition kicked off last Saturday at the Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change (MoCC) in the Chinese University of Hong Kong. It will run through February 2024.

The exhibition features a batch of visual materials grounded on a February Antarctic expedition headed by American marine biologist Sylvia Earle, unfolding various phenomena – melting ice, suffering penguins, and abnormally overgrown green algae – in the polar region that resulted from climate change.

We hope to inspire everyone to make a difference and adopt new approaches to accelerate carbon neutrality by conserving the ocean and cryosphere.

Natalie Chung Sum-yue, Curator of the exhibition

“These poignant images and narratives will serve as a wake-up call,” said one of the exhibition's curators Natalie Chung Sum-yue, who was also a member of the expedition. The local advocate said the exhibition aims to evoke a sense of urgency and inspire collective action to address climate change. 

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Among the exhibits is a video series where explorers from different fields share stories of their journeys to Antarctica, and discuss how the polar region relates to Asia. 

The exhibition also displays a collection of photographs and sketches contributed by homegrown explorer Rebecca Lee Lok-sze, who has set foot in the Arctic, Antarctica, and Mount Everest regions. 

Natalie Chung Sum-yue, curator of the "Climate Witness: Changing Polar Landscapes" multimedia exhibition, poses for photos during the launching ceremony of the exhibition, at Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, in Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, Dec 16, 2023. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Chung said these firsthand accounts may help Hong Kong residents gain a deeper understanding of the importance of Antarctica's preservation within a local context.

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“We hope to inspire everyone to make a difference and adopt new approaches to accelerate carbon neutrality by conserving the ocean and cryosphere,” she told China Daily.

Chung, who has attended the COP28, said she is also producing a TV program on the UN climate summit, in a bid to simplify complex climate concepts into accessible household knowledge. 

Visitors tour the "Climate Witness: Changing Polar Landscapes" multimedia exhibition, at Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, in Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, Dec 16, 2023. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

“It aims to empower people from all walks of life to contribute to our national goal of carbon neutrality … Climate action starts in our immediate surroundings, where small actions by billions of people lead to significant carbon reductions.”

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The recently concluded COP28 in Dubai has reached a consensus on the first-ever global stocktake and a historic global agreement on a transition roadmap away from fossil fuels.

China said it will continue to actively advance international cooperation on addressing climate change and work with all parties to promote the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.