A British earth scientist who joined City University of Hong Kong last month believes China is “the great hope in climate science”.

Professor Benjamin Horton – who became dean of CityU’s energy and environment school on Earth Day, April 22 – said China was compelling for climate scientists because of the availability of funding, its advances in green technology, and government support for environmental research.

“China has been investing in green technology and reforestation, whereas other countries are pulling back,” Horton said.

“I’ve spent most of my career in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia. I wanted to come here because I want to work in China – it is a superpower and they are pro-environment.”

Horton was most recently a professor in earth science at the Nanyang Technological University and director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore, which researches earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and climate change in and around Southeast Asia.