As the climate crisis intensifies, Hong Kong has experienced a number of deadly record-breaking hot weather and torrential rainfall in recent years. At a joint press conference, 23 organisations submitted a Climate Policy Address Recommendation to the Chief Executive, Mr Lee Ka Chiu, urging the Government to adopt more immediate and proactive climate actions to catch up with the international pace of carbon emission reduction, to accelerate the energy transition and to scale up green investment.
In the “Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2050” (CAP2050), the Government set the targets to halve Hong Kong's carbon emissions from the 2005 level by 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. However, the CAP2050 fails to clarify the amount of emission reduction for each policy, how to achieve the total emission reduction, or establish a mechanism for annual carbon reduction progress reporting. Thus, the public is unable to know the progress of emission reduction. Ms Kitty Tam, Programme Lead of Civic Exchange, said, “Tackling climate change requires long-term efforts and a comprehensive governance framework to formulate science-based carbon reduction targets with a stringent reporting mechanism, and clearly defined responsibilities for various departments. This ensures that all government departments and sectors of society can collaboratively achieve the goal of carbon neutrality.”
The Government will update the CAP2050 in 2026. Tom Ng, Campaigner at Greenpeace said, “Hong Kong claims to be a green financial hub in the region. Therefore, our financial policies should fully align with the 2050 carbon neutral target. We should accelerate the incorporation of the ‘no significant harm’ principle into the sustainable finance taxonomy and establish an effective mechanism to prevent ‘greenwashing’. We should actively participate in the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) that helps developing countries reduce their carbon emissions, promotes green finance and sustainable development, and contributes to the global transition towards a low-carbon economy.
In addition to promoting the energy transition to mitigate climate change, protecting natural ecosystems is also an important means of effectively adapting to the climate crisis. Ms Marine Thomas, Associate Director of Conservation, The Nature Conservancy Hong Kong, emphasised, “The Government should incorporate nature-based solutions into its climate policies, urban planning and infrastructure designs to enhance Hong Kong's climate resilience. By restoring terrestrial and marine ecosystems, we will not only increase our resilience to extreme weather, but also protect biodiversity, in line with global and national conservation targets.
The Government has committed to a number of emission and waste reduction policies, but the plans for some of the key policies have yet to be announced. The groups suggest that the Government should promote green transport in Hong Kong by revising the Roadmap for the Popularisation of Electric Vehicles in Hong Kong to cover all commercial vehicles such as cabs, buses, mini buses, trucks, etc. They also suggest that the government should implement Producer Responsibility System schemes by 2025 for plastic beverage containers, cartons, vehicle tyres, and electric vehicle batteries.
We urge the Government to adopt the following five areas to accelerate Hong Kong's efforts in achieving carbon neutrality and enhance its climate resilience. Suggestions include:
1. Establish a climate governance framework to drive effective climate action
2. Promote a whole-of-society transition to a low-carbon lifestyle within a circular economy framework
3. Strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a sustainable finance hub
4. Incorporate nature-based solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation
5. Develop pathways for Hong Kong to become a green transport hub
Remark：The press release is jointly issued by: (in alphabetical order)
Initiating organizations
Civic Exchange
The Nature Conservancy
Greenpeace
Co-signing organizations
2041Hong Kong
350HK
ADM Capital Foundation
Bloom HK
CarbonCare InnoLab
Designing Hong Kong
Drink Without Waste
Ecology & Biodiversity Society, SS, HKUSU
Friends of the Earth
Green Power
Greeners Action
Hong Kong 2050 is Now
Hong Kong Bird Watching Society
Hong Kong Shark Foundation
Plastic Free Seas
The Green Earth
The Harbour School
The Network of Environmental Student Societies
World New Economy Council