Hong Kong climate-tech company highlights school-based cooling projects that connect passive radiative cooling, climate education and community action.HONG KONG , July 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- i2Cool, a climate-tech company specialising in electricity-free cooling solutions, participated in the opening ceremony of the 2026 Global Conference of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development, held from July 15 to 17 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.Ir Prof. Edwin Chi-Yan Tso, Co-founder of i2Cool, Associate Dean (Internationalisation and Outreach) and Chair Professor of Energy and Sustainability at the School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), attended the ceremony alongside Prof. Martin Y.H. Zhu, Co-founder and CEO of i2Cool.The conference brought together representatives from governments, research institutions, businesses and civil society to examine how scientific knowledge and innovation can be translated into inclusive, practical and scalable solutions for sustainable development.FIRST Programme Connects Scientific Innovation with Community NeedsA key focus of i2Cool's participation was the Fostering Innovation for Resilience and Sustainable Transformation Programme, known as FIRST.Led by CityUHK, the FIRST Programme has been endorsed by UNESCO as an initiative under the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024–2033). Ir Prof. Tso serves as Programme Director, coordinating collaboration among academic institutions, technology companies, non-governmental organisations and local communities.i2Cool participates as one of the Programme's core technology partners, supporting the deployment of passive radiative cooling technologies in schools and communities affected by high temperatures, limited energy access and inadequate cooling infrastructure.The Programme brings together four areas of innovation: