Why sustainability, female empowerment and adventure go hand in hand

Tatler Asia

23-04-2025

After coming back from CAR, Chor swiftly launched the now-retired Hong Kong Explorers initiative with a grant from National Geographic .
'Coming back to Hong Kong after the CAR, I started to ask myself 'how much of Hong Kong have I not explored?',' she reflects. 'I crossed the world to find nature, but actually Hong Kong has so much to offer.' Despite its abundant natural beauty and resources, she notes that the city has fostered a culture that remains disconnected from nature—a disconnect that contributes to the environmental problems we face today. 'How can we measure our impact on nature if we're not paying attention to it?' she asks.
With this initiative, Chor put nature, exploration and education first, but gender also played a role. 'It's impossible to look at any environmental problem without looking at it through the lens of power, oppression and politics,' she says. 'Therefore, you cannot talk about the environment without talking about gender.'
While Chor no longer focuses on the Hong Kong Explorers initiative, she continues to thrive as a multimedia journalist where she puts human, nature and transnational issues at the centre of her photos, articles and documentaries. 'Growing up in Hong Kong, I didn't know any journalists, scientists or explorers', she concludes. 'But if you can see it, you can be it. So I hope that my career, and doing my thing, inspires girls and women in Hong Kong to follow their own path.' Natalie Chung's expeditions have deepened her commitment to nature and gender equality
Emerging as a prominent voice in climate education, Natalie Chung has carved a unique path for herself. 'My climate journey began when I was 11. I was captivated by an interview with a female Polar explorer, Dr Rebecca Lee, who described the fragile beauty of the Poles,' she recalls, noting that this initial spark ignited a lifelong commitment to protecting our planet. While studying geography at university, she co-founded V'air Sustainability Education, transforming her passion into action through nature-based learning experiences. What started with student-led eco-tours in Hong Kong's country parks has evolved into a social enterprise that has reached over two million people.
Chung's adventures have taken her from the icy waters of Antarctica in 2023—where she represented Hong Kong on the Dr Sylvia Earle Antarctic Climate Expedition —to the coastal villages of Fiji in 2024. Collaborating with UNDP Pacific and RTHK for the TV documentary series Climate Insight , she has documented the impacts of climate change and adaptation strategies. 'Every expedition has deepened my reverence for nature and my commitment to climate justice,' she states, reflecting on her humbling experiences with communities facing the harsh realities of climate change.
For Chung, addressing gender inequality is essential in the fight for environmental sustainability. 'Gender and climate justice are inseparable,' she says, highlighting how women and girls in the Global South are disproportionately affected by climate disasters yet often excluded from decision-making processes. Through V'air, she is dedicated to empowering young girls by creating programmes that blend climate science, storytelling and leadership training. 'When girls are empowered to understand climate systems and advocate for policy, they become catalysts for systemic transformations,' she says.
Looking ahead, Chung envisions V'air as a platform nurturing the next generation of Asian female climate leaders. 'When girls see women who look like them leading climate action, it redefines what they believe is possible,' she says. Inspired by pioneering figures such as Dr Rebecca Lee and Dr Jane Goodall, she aspires to establish that women belong at the forefront of exploration and leadership. Carmen Chan wants to make empowerment through nature adventures accessible to girls
Carmen Chan is not just an entrepreneur; she is a dynamic force driving social change through her innovative blend of design, communication and empowerment. Her journey began unexpectedly four years ago when she volunteered to teach entrepreneurship at an anti-trafficking NGO in Hong Kong for women survivors of sexual exploitation. 'Encountering these resilient women and knowing their stories prompted a lot of self-reflection,' she says, 'I started to ask myself: what is my role in these big social problems? What are the ways to live and work purposefully?'
To find the answer, Chan decided to leave Hong Kong and embark on a transformative two-year global journey. She dedicated most of this time to volunteering, like in northern Thailand or Vietnam, and meeting like-minded female changemakers. One such formative experience for Chan was spending time at Thailand's eco-lodge Chai Lai Orchid, which not only shelters rescued elephants but also supports education and employment for marginalised women. This initiative opened her eyes to possibility of creating an enterprise that lies at the intersection of business and social impact.
This led Chan to found Girls Be Change, a social enterprise aimed at inspiring young women to become explorers and changemakers. 'This year, we are launching the Impact Expedition for Women Explorers, focusing on wildlife conservation and women's empowerment,' she says.
Chan highlights the deep connection between gender equality and environmental sustainability. 'The climate crisis does not affect everyone equally—girls and women face disproportionate impacts from climate change,' she explains, noting how challenges like unstable access to clean water exacerbate existing gender inequalities. She sees women as crucial to the solution. 'Equal gender representation can lead to more holistic solutions in climate action.'
Through Girls Be Change, Chan envisions a community where girls and women feel empowered to address the social causes they care about. 'We may work for different causes, but we're all striving for the greater good,' she says. Her mission is clear: to catalyse and connect women ready to make a difference in the world.