i2Cool will participate in the Fostering Innovation for Resilience and Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) Programme, a global initiative led by City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and officially endorsed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Selected as one of only 30 projects worldwide recognized under the United Nations International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development (2024–2033), this project aims to advance sustainability through innovation and collaboration.
The FIRST Programme has emerged in response to urgent global challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and the need for clean energy transitions. With a strong focus on innovation and international collaboration, the programme aims to accelerate progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Led by CityUHK in collaboration with UNESCO, i2Cool, and a diverse network of international partners, the initiative represents a concerted global effort to build a sustainable future through science, technology, and cooperative action.
Core innovations of the project include: i) Passive Radiative Cooling Coatings Using
Local Waste Materials for Lowering Temperatures of Houses; ii) Affordable Printable
Solar Films for Generating Electricity in Rural Areas; iii) Biomass Waste-to-Energy
Conversion for Circular Economy; and iv) Human-powered Sanitation System for
Generating Potable Water.
Among these, passive radiative cooling technology developed and implemented
by i2Cool distinguishes itself through its mature product platform and extensive
global deployment experience to provide critical support in high-temperature and
resource-scarce areas.
