Global Society and Sustainability Lab (GSSL)
Objectives:
The Global Society and Sustainability Lab (GSSL) is a platform for collaborations between academic researchers and stakeholders in government, business and civil society, with the aim of bringing social scientific theories, methods and insights into global discourses and practices on environmental sustainability. These collaborations notably aim to build capacity among business, financial, government and civil society stakeholders in Hong Kong, China and beyond to consider the social and cultural dimensions of sustainable investments and development projects in communities of the Global South.
As a “Lab”, the GSSL engages in experimental action-research to produce innovative and practical outcomes, combining expertise, knowledge and methods from fields that rarely communicate with each other – such as anthropologists and financial professionals; State-owned enterprises and local communities; religious practitioners and environmental engineers; or policymakers and philosophers.
The premise of the GSSL is that, while ecological sustainability is widely recognized as becoming an existential challenge for the future of humanity, “ecology” needs to be understood holistically, in which the physical environment and social life cannot be separated. It is as social groups that humans engage with their world, imagine their future, perceive environmental changes, build knowledge on their environment, debate on how to develop and protect their societies and their environment, and carry out measures to achieve their goals for sustainability. Sustainability is as much a matter of social values and collective capacity as it is a matter of scientific expertise and technical solutions. And yet, there is little collaboration between social scientists and other stakeholders around theses issues.
The GSSL aims to bridge this gap by drawing on the methods and expertise of the social sciences grounded in field-based investigations and community engagement, in pro-active engagement with the methods of other fields such as finance, humanities, business management, law and engineering, to develop and apply approaches that are grounded in the social realities, cultural values and spiritual aspirations of stakeholders.
Background:
The Lab builds on the research expertise, networks, collaborations and resources developed by Prof. David A. Palmer through major grants on the socio-cultural dimensions of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Together, the projects allowed the creation of a team of postdocs, researchers and international collaborators that have constituted one of the world’s largest hubs of field-based research expertise on the socio-cultural dimensions of Global China’s engagement with local communities in the Global South.
The research team’s growing expertise has emerged in parallel with an increasing emphasis by the Chinese government, along with international financial institutions, on the adoption of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles for “Greening the BRI.” There is a growing awareness among Chinese stakeholders, including financial institutions, state-owned enterprises and government actors, that a lack of understanding of local conditions may lead to major unappreciated risks in infrastructural investments; and these social risks are usually compounded with environmental issues. But the meaning, measurement and reporting of the “Social” component of ESG is often poorly defined and understood.
Emerging collaborations with these stakeholders, as well as civil society actors in BRI countries, has led to the Lab developing new directions to translate in research into actionable applications and benefits for stakeholders both in China and in Global South countries, notably through the development and application of S principles for ESG in sustainable business. This new line of research has received the support of the HKU Seed Grant for Collaborative Research scheme, with the objective of applying for additional grants from government and private sources. The GSSL was established in 2025 to further support the growing number of collaborations with non-academic stakeholders.
Research:
The Lab’s work is based on the team’s research on the nature and dynamics of localized cultural interactions in the Global South. We use ethnographic methods to understand how, in local contexts, outside projects, investments and business practices become entangled with local socio-political conditions, networks, values and beliefs, focusing on the lived experience, perceptions and transformations of specific local communities.
Building on this fundamental research, the Lab will produce concept papers, case studies and policy proposals for Knowledge Exchange on the following issues:
-
Adapting ESG and other indicators-based assessment methods for socially responsible investment to local cultures, values and social realities
-
Implementation of the social component of ESG investment principles by Chinese enterprises in countries of the Global South
-
A general model of socio-political risk assessment, risk management and community engagement for use by stakeholders in Global South countries
-
Drawing on philosophical and faith traditions and indigenous knowledge systems from China and Global South countries, to build concepts and approaches for engaging with global discourses and contemporary practices of sustainability.
Events and activities:
The Lab holds lectures, forums, conferences and seminars on related topics, designed to bring together perspectives from both academic and non-academic, Chinese and overseas participants.
The Lab offers professional executive training seminars, modules and materials for government entities, financial institutions, businesses and NGOs. Past seminars have been given for the Policy Research Unit of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, the Green BRI International Coalition, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank; and the Lab collaborates in training programmes with the Capacity Building Alliance for Sustainable Investment.
Governance Structure:
Director: Prof. David A. Palmer (Professor, HKIHSS/Dept of Sociology)
Deputy Directors:
Dr. C. K. LEUNG
Dr. Joseba ESTEVEZ
Ms FAN Ziwei
HKU Academic Advisory Board:
Prof. Shahla ALI, Associate Dean (International Afffairs), Faculty of Law
Prof. Tarani CHANDOLA, Head, Dept of Sociology; Director, Methods Hub, Faculty of Social Sciences.
Prof. CHEN Zhiwu, Chair and Cheng Yu-Tung Professor in Finance, HKU Business School; Director, Hong Kong Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences.
Prof. LI Cheng, Director, Centre on Contemporary China and the World.
Prof. TANG Heiwai, Victor and William Fung Professor in Economics, HKU Business School; Director, Asia Global Institute
International Advisory Board
Chair: Mr. Martin PALMER, Director, Faith and Media Alliance, Green Climate Fund
Prof. May FARID, Assistant Professor, Joan B. Krok School of Peace Studies, University of San Diego, USA
Prof. Hasan KARRAR, Associate Professor, Lahore Management University, Pakistan
Prof. Marie HARDER, Professor, Dept of Environmental Engineering, Fudan University, China; Professor of Sustainable Waste Management, University of Brighton, UK.
Prof. LIANG Yongjia, Director, Institute of Anthropology, Zhejiang University, China.
Dr. Bikram TIMILSINA, Director, Asian Institute for Advanced Research, Kathmandu (Nepal)
Professional Advisory Board:
Chair: Dr. MA Jun, President, Hong Kong Green Finance Association; President, Institute of Finance and Sustainability (Beijing); Co-Chair, Steering Committee on Green Investment Principles for the Belt and Road; Professor of Practice, HKU Business School
Prof. Anthony CHEUNG, Managing Director and Head of ESG, PAG Polymer Capital Management; Greenhouse Gas Protocol Independent Standard Board Member; Adjunct Professor, HKU Business School
Sein Mene CHEW, President, Unity Asset Management
Matthew CHONG, Chairman, Greater Bay Area Innovation Think Tank; Member of the Guangdong Provincial Peoples’ Political Consultative Conference.
Prof. Stan HO, Chief Representative, Syntao Green Finance; ESG Committee Chairperson, Asia Pacific Structured Finance Association; Adjunct Associate Professor, HKUST Business School
Collaborating Organizations
Capacity Building Alliance for Sustainable Investment (CASI).
China Enterprise Reform and Development Society (CERDS)
Faithinvest (UK)
Asian Institute for Advanced Research (AIFAR):
Institute for Global Civilization (IGC):
World Federation of Daoism; Sik Sik Yuen (Wong Tai Sin Temple, Hong Kong); Laos Daoist Association:
Indicative programme structure
Compulsory courses
-
Problem solving sociology: social theory for society
-
Sociological research design and fundamental methods
-
Qualitative research methods or Quantitative research methods
Elective courses
Perspectives on society
Criminology
Media and culture
Spatial population analysis
-
MPOP7001. Fertility and family structures
-
MPOP7002. Mortality, ageing and health
-
MPOP7003. Migration and urbanization
-
MPOP7005. Global demography and development
-
MPOP7106. Demography of Greater China
Capstone project course
-
Capstone project in Sociology
Note: Courses offered vary each year based on availability of teachers and student demand.
You are typically required to complete 10 courses in total to fulfill the programme requirements:
-
Full-time study: Four compulsory courses, four elective courses and the capstone project (equivalent to two courses).
-
Part-time study: In Year 1, four compulsory courses. In Year 2, four elective courses and the capstone project (equivalent to two courses).
The definitive course options and requirements will be listed in the Regulations and Syllabuses for the programme, which will be published prior programme commencement in September 2025.