Hong Kong - Eight of Hong Kong's major universities have set up a consortium to make their campuses more environmentally sustainable.

The eight universities, including Hong Kong University, announced the establishment of the organization, entitled the Hong Kong Sustainable Campus Consortium, at the Climate Dialogue conference in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

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Through regular meetings, the consortium is designed to enable Hong Kong's universities to work together, share their expertise, and cooperate on research projects, John Malpas, vice-president of Hong Kong University and chairman of the conshortium, said of the conference.

It will also help in setting up benchmarks for certain research work among the universities, according to Malpas.

The consortium has already held three meetings, on issues including how to deal with energy costs on campus, according to Malpas.