Academic Week
The theme of the academic week this year is competing for the future. One of the lectures is Low Carbon Life which aims to promote low carbon economy by making carbon management a mainstream practice across companies, institutions and community organization. The speaker is Mr. Albert Lai who was appointed as CEO of Carbon Care Asia. He has been a greatly valued Advisor to the company and is well acquainted with various carbon strategy and sustainability issues faced by clients and partners in different sectors.
Mr. Albert Lai mentions that a per capita carbon emission is about 5.9 tons every year in Hong Kong. Lord Nicholas Stern proposes ‘The economics of Climate Change’ which tell us the rate of climate change is faster than scientists calculated. According to the research, land and ocean surface temperature have increased by 0.85℃ in the past 150 years. It’s extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warning since of mid-20th century.
Therefore, Carbon Care Asia will help the companies to create new opportunities from these challenges, incorporate them into their business strategies and achieve their sustainability goals, while applying the best practices in carbon management. They also help the companies to train their staff and develop engagement programs to increase staff awareness on climate change issues and conduct workshops on carbon management. It can enhance the staffs’ knowledge of the company's low-carbon policy and the staffs are able to work more effectively and efficiently. When the companies use the carbon strategy, it can sustain growth and generate new opportunities, enhance branding and strengthen competitive advantage, save costs and minimize risks and engage employees and increase morale. Employees will appreciate commitment of their company to create an impact against climate change positively in order to sustaining their motivation, morale and loyalty.
Another lecture is the psychology of A Positive Organization by Mr. Edmond Lau who is the police clinical psychologist. The responsibilities of Mr. Edmond Lau are counseling the police officers when they will join a high-risk work or when they have psychological problems, and provide the training of psychological knowledge and teach them how to face the citizen’s unreasonable behavior and manage their emotions.
Mr. Edmond Lau said that there are more than 6000 demonstrations every year. The police need to do non-mainstream work and they will feel people not enough to respect the police. Nowadays, it’s difficult for police to law enforcement because police’s image like a customer service. It will against their self-confidence and affect morale. In order to enhance the police psychological quality, it needs to invest substantial resources to provide training because happier employees are more productive, less sick and more dependable. Mr. Edmond Lau mention that they according to TAKE model to provide police psychology training. TAKE model mean treat, appreciate, and know the people and ease. The police can find joy and meaning at their work. It can increase their dedication. The training teaches them how to think positive and manage their emotion. When the citizens make the unreasonable behavior, the police need to handle their angry emotion and ease their negative feeling. One of the important thing is the police need to know what the people think.
Mr. Edmond Lau points out three elements for organization to think positive. One is to foster positive relationship, and show care, understanding and support to others. It can increase organization capability, skills, and experience. Another one is positivity which encourages people to think positive, having a positive attitude, and creating and savoring emotion. Last one is engagement which is positively related to well being and attendance, employee retention. A good psychological quality is very important for people to work whatever which companies they work in.