Latest news with #ChristileDrulhe
HKFP
09-05-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Climate crisis: Why June's UN Ocean Conference in France matters for Hong Kong
By Christile Drulhe, consul general of France in Hong Kong and Macau In exactly one month's time – from June 9 to 13 – France will co-host with Costa Rica the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC). For this crucial event, around 100 heads of state and government, as well as tens of thousands of researchers, scientists, economic actors, activists and citizens from around the world, will converge in the French city of Nice. The aim is clear: protecting the ocean through tangible action. On June 7, Nice will also host the first-ever Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Summit, bringing together representatives and authorities from the cities and local authorities most affected by the rise in sea levels to bolster information sharing and good practices in a collaborative manner. The ocean is our common good. One in three people relies on the ocean for their livelihood, yet the ocean is in danger. The figures are worrying: more than eight million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year, according to a study published in the journal Science. Moreover, more than a third of fish stocks suffer from overfishing, while ocean acidification, rising sea levels and the destruction of marine ecosystems gain pace, as direct consequences of climate change. We must act now. Ten years after the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) and the resulting Paris Agreement, which established a binding global framework to mitigate climate change, the third UNOC is a historic opportunity. The Nice agreements can form an international pact for the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean. The protection of the ocean requires public and private funding and support for a sustainable blue economy. To continue enjoying the incredible economic opportunities offered by the ocean, we need to make sure marine resources can regenerate. In Nice, several commitments will be announced for global trade, shipping, tourism, and investment. Lastly, how can we protect something that we don't – or insufficiently – know? We need to enhance our knowledge of the ocean and disseminate it more effectively, and Hong Kong scientists have a key role to play in this regard. Following a successful French Science Festival on Ocean in October, we collaborated with the Department of Ocean Science of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and the Hong Kong Maritime Museum to hold a Blue Talk on Tuesday to raise public awareness of the impact of climate change on marine biodiversity. Speakers from the government, the civil society, and scientific institutions, as well as the public, showed a deep interest in how we can take collective action to protect the ocean. It is all the more crucial today as we are capable of mapping the surface of the Moon and Mars, but the depths of the ocean, which covers 70% of Earth's surface, remain largely unknown. Hong Kong has an opportunity to actively take part in the dynamic of the conference in Nice. As a global shipping hub, as a coastal city which is bound to be increasingly impacted by sea-level rise and as a beacon of biodiversity that hosts 26 per cent of the total marine biodiversity of China, Hong Kong knows all too well that the ocean is not an issue like any other. In fact, Hong Kong can bring an invaluable contribution to these talks, through its vibrant civil society, in-depth scientific knowledge of local stakes, strong culture of philanthropy and relevant policies. The action plan on green maritime fuel bunkering adopted last year is an encouraging step to develop Hong Kong into a green maritime centre. This topic will be one of the key issues to be discussed at UNOC, with the contribution of participants from Hong Kong. For this reason, representatives of the Hong Kong government, scientists and companies have been invited to share their sense of commitment, expertise and insights in Nice. The ocean is a universal bond, crucial for our future: It is everyone's business. Together, we can make the third UNOC a major turning point for every part of our planet. HKFP is an impartial platform & does not necessarily share the views of opinion writers or advertisers. HKFP presents a diversity of views & regularly invites figures across the political spectrum to write for us. Press freedom is guaranteed under the Basic Law, security law, Bill of Rights and Chinese constitution. Opinion pieces aim to point out errors or defects in the government, law or policies, or aim to suggest ideas or alterations via legal means without an intention of hatred, discontent or hostility against the authorities or other communities.
South China Morning Post
11-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
‘Open source' model: why France wants to work closely with China on AI
In both China and the United States, the rush to develop artificial intelligence is often viewed through a Cold War lens: as an arms race between two rival superpowers. Advertisement But France – and Europe more broadly – aims to break out of this model. It is pursuing a 'collaborative approach' to developing AI, and that means it is willing to work closely with both Beijing and Washington on key issues. In an interview with the Post, the French consul general in Hong Kong, Christile Drulhe, said that although 'each country would like to develop its own ecosystem', they share 'a lot of common interests' when it comes to AI. 'How do we regulate AI technologies at the international level to avoid potential risks for mankind?' she said. 'How can we help scientists or start-ups from around the world drive progress by sharing open-source technologies?' France is not shying away from competition. It has set a national strategy of positioning itself as an 'AI powerhouse', and in February the French government announced it would invest €109 billion (US$118 billion) on AI infrastructure projects. Advertisement Meanwhile, the US-China rivalry has continued to intensify. Washington has launched a string of measures to curtail China's access to cutting-edge semiconductors, while Beijing has placed export curbs on some of the minerals US companies need to make those chips.
South China Morning Post
11-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
France and Hong Kong can tap AI possibilities together, top diplomat says
Artificial intelligence (AI) has opened up new opportunities for business and academic exchanges between France and Hong Kong, the country's top diplomat to the city has said. Advertisement French Consul General Christile Drulhe was confident the city would attract talent and businesses if it refocused on the economy after having concentrated on national security in recent years. While the French community in Hong Kong was smaller than before the Covid-19 pandemic, the French still believed the city offered many opportunities as a major financial hub, she told the Post. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po made AI a centrepiece of his budget address last month, outlining a slew of investments in the sector, including HK$1 billion (US$128.7 million) to establish the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute. French President Emmanuel Macron also announced €109 billion (US$118 billion) worth of investment pledges involving the fast-changing technology last month during a meeting of world leaders and tech experts who gathered in Paris to discuss AI governance. Finance chief Paul Chan watches a robot demonstration at launch ceremony for Hong Kong Investment Corporation and Galbot related to their joint push in AI at the Island Shangri-La. Photo: Dickson Lee Speaking to the Post, Drulhe said the two-day summit should create conditions for investment opportunities, as well as business and academic exchanges, between Hong Kong and France.
