In the context of global climate change and ever-growing human activities, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and associated natural disasters, have increased significantly. This trend not only places major stress on natural ecosystems and agriculture, but also affects the socio-economic activities of both urban and rural communities, as well as the health and safety of humanity.
To address these critical challenges, a new Otto Poon Research Institute for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure (RICRI) has been established at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), funded by a generous donation from the Otto Poon Charity Foundation. RICRI aims to develop standards, guidelines and good practices for climate-resilient infrastructures, and to provide an interdisciplinary research platform to build an effective and integrated scientific think tank for the broader community in Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world.