Press Releases

(Hong Kong, 22 September 2025)  Researchers at the School of Continuing Education (SCE), Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), in collaboration with colleagues at the Faculty of Education, Monash University in Australia, conducted Hong Kong’s first large-scale survey on nature connectedness among primary and secondary school students from June 2024 to February 2025. The study generated insights into students’ emotional and cognitive connection with nature, and their current level of engagement with natural environments. The collaboration facilitated by SCE’s Research Centre for Environment and Human Health (the Centre) has been dedicated to investigating the impact of nature connectedness and its significance for the goals and design of environmental education.

Nature connectedness refers to the emotional and cognitive bond between individuals and the natural environment. Nature connectedness goes beyond simply interacting with nature, focusing on one’s perceptions of, and connections to, the natural world. Research shows that fostering this connection in children through carefully designed educational provision can enhance psychological well-being, cultivate empathy, and strengthen their sense of environmental responsibility and sustainable behaviour.

With over 50% of students surveyed spending 4+ hours on devices daily, are green spaces not accessible enough?

The current study surveyed over 2,300 students in Hong Kong, aged between eight and 18, comprising 25% from primary schools and 75% from secondary schools. Findings revealed that on average, more than half of the respondents spent four hours or more each day using electronic devices. Nonetheless, nearly seven in 10 students (67%) visited urban green spaces such as parks in the city at least once a month, whereas two in 10 (21%) did the same for rural areas such as country parks or hiking trails (Figure 1). This “experience gap” highlights the important role that accessible urban nature plays in fostering students’ connection to the natural world. From a policy perspective, expanding easily reachable green spaces such as urban parks, green corridors and pocket gardens, and promoting greening initiatives within school campuses can help integrate opportunities for nature experiences into everyday community life. On the education front, regular nature excursions, outdoor learning activities and teacher training programmes can support students in building meaningful connections with nature through both daily life and learning. A dual approach that combines urban design and educational practice can help reshape the relationship between people and nature, enhance environmental awareness, wellbeing and mental health, and ultimately contribute to the sustainable vision of “healthy environment, healthy people.”

Lower level of nature connectedness among HK students compared to Western countries; girls more connected than boys

The overall average nature connectedness score among students was 3.7 out of 5, with primary students scoring slightly higher at 3.9 compared to 3.6 for secondary students. Overall, girls (3.74) scored slightly higher than boys (3.6) too. While students’ nature connectedness in Hong Kong is not markedly low, it remains relatively limited compared to findings about their peers in some Western settings. This may be attributed to factors such as a highly urbanised and digitalised living environment for children growing up in Hong Kong, as well as fewer opportunities for daily exposure to natural landscapes and outdoor activities. The study by the Centre, published in Biological Conservation, illustrates the significant role that authentic lived experiences in childhood with local wildlife can play in influencing children’s affective attitudes towards biodiversity. Prior research also shows a strong link between nature connectedness and wellbeing, as well as pro-environmental behaviours like resource conservation and pollution reduction. International research, and the Centre’s studies show that strengthening students’ connection to nature not only supports their mental and physical health, but also fosters a sense of environmental responsibility, helping to cultivate a new generation of ecologically conscious citizens.

Over half of students feel happy due to outdoor activities; study advocates for a "nature-based" new direction in environmental education

The survey also found that more than half of the students expressed that being outdoors made them happy (Figure 2). Dr Sam Lau, Person in-charge of the Centre and Principal Investigator of the study, remarked: “Nature connectedness is a vital pillar of students’ mental health and overall well-being. Yet in today’s highly urbanised and digitalised environment, opportunities for children to engage with nature are increasingly limited. The rapid integration of technologies such as AI into classroom life and homelife further compresses space and time for outdoor exploration. This highlights an urgent need for the education sector to reconsider the balance between time for technology and nature, and to champion environmental education that fosters students’ awareness, empathy and stewardship of the natural world.” Professor Alan Reid of Monash University, Co-researcher of the study, added: “As we mark 50 years since the signing of the United Nations Belgrade Charter as a global framework for environmental education, our research echoes its spirit and highlights growing pressures faced by students in Hong Kong as they navigate between increasingly digitalised lifestyles and nature engagement. The ‘extinction of experience’ – a growing disconnect from nature – can be addressed through the provision of well-rounded environmental education both within and beyond schools. The Centre remains at the forefront of this mission and flies the flag for evidence-and natured-based environmental education that empowers generations to reconnect with nature.”

Recognising the need to strengthen students’ connection to nature, the Centre launched a territory-wide environmental education initiative from November 2024. The programme engaged over 850 students through a series of workshops, such as Getting to Know Hong Kong’s Mammals, Wetlands and Climate Change, and Exploring the Healing Power of Nature, designed to foster appreciation of Hong Kong’s rich biodiversity and deepen emotional ties with the natural world. Activities combined observation, hands-on experience and discussion to explore the value of nature from multiple perspectives. The Centre also highlighted nature’s role in climate change mitigation and encouraged students to spend more time in natural settings to enhance well-being and support the development of “nature-based education” in Hong Kong.

Dr Lau and his team are committed to continuing and deepening their research, further exploring the impact of students’ nature connectedness on climate action and supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Professor Ronald Chung, Dean of SCE, remarked: “Research in Environment, Health, and Sustainable Futures has always been a key focus area for our School. These research outcomes provide new directions for nurturing the next generation of environmentally conscious and sustainability-minded citizens.” Dr Lau hopes the survey findings will foster a comprehensive understanding across society of students’ relationship with nature and drive the adoption of nature-centred educational strategies, which in turn strengthens the role of environmental education in schools in Hong Kong.

Findings from the Centre are published in prestigious international research journals, including this open access article on the latest study in the December 2025 edition of “Biological Conservation”:

Lau, S.S.S., Choi, R.P.W. & Reid, A. (2025) How nature experience and nature connectedness matter to school students' attitudes towards biodiversity. Biological Conservation, 312, 111493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111493 

Acknowledgements

We extend our sincere appreciation to the principals, teachers and students of the participating primary and secondary schools for their enthusiastic support and engagement throughout the study. A heartfelt acknowledgement also goes to HK Discovery and the Sustainability Unit of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups for their valuable assistance in the study.

About the International Research Team

This research was conceived and led by Dr Sam Lau, Person-in-charge of Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, SCE, HKBU in collaboration with Professor Alan Reid of Faculty of Education, Monash University, Australia.

About the Research Centre for Environment and Human Health

The Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, SCE, HKBU was established in 2021 with the funding support from the Research Grant Council of Hong Kong, China (UGCIS(R) 23/20, funding period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023). The Centre serves as an interdisciplinary research platform that fosters collaborative, cross-disciplinary research to deepen understanding of the critical links between environmental change and human health. It aims to identify integrative solutions to pressing challenges at the environment-health nexus, while actively promoting public awareness of environmental health and sustainability.

Figures 1 and 2 are available for download at http://scepr.hkbu.edu.hk/nature2025e.

Captions:

Figure 1: Responses on the frequency of exposure to urban and rural green spaces and average daily electronic devices usage

Figure 2: Responses on the “Being Outdoors Makes Me Happy” study among overall students, primary school students and secondary school students

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