Hong Kong Youth for Climate Action - Urge for a bigger step towards zero emission

 

Introduction

With Hong Kong declaring the goal of achieving the carbon neutrality target by 2050 in the recently published Policy Address 2021 and the Climate Action Plan 2050, are the current climate actions adequate to support Hong Kong’s reach for the ambitious target? Are there any specific timeline and key performance indicators for the goal? 

The recently released Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report (IPCC, 2021) indicates that climate change is now a serious threat to humanity, and that the climate impact is no longer limited to our next generation. It states, “Global warming of 1.5°C and 2°C will be exceeded during the 21st century unless deep reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions occur in the coming decades... With further global warming, every region is projected to increasingly experience concurrent and multiple changes in climatic impact-drivers. Changes in several climatic impact-drivers would be more widespread at 2°C compared to 1.5°C global warming”. We’re already seeing the enormous human and economic costs with the floods in Henan and London, the fires in Australia, the USA, Greece, and Turkey.

This document assesses Hong Kong’s performance against the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, and the potential consequences of the climate crisis that we will shortly experience from the latest IPCC report. It sets out our suggestions for an all-rounded and feasible long-term Climate Action Plan to achieve the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The Hong Kong government published the Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050 on 8th October (Environment Bureau, 2021). The government pledged to reduce carbon emission by 50% by 2035, compared with the level in 2005, and reach carbon neutrality in 2050. Notwithstanding a brief timeline is introduced in the plan, there is no scientific based and clear pathway to reach carbon neutrality. Besides, carbon neutrality does not necessarily refer to net-zero which means “any remaining emissions would need to be balanced by removing CO2 from the air” according to IPCC (2021). Therefore, the government is suggested to pledge net zero with scientific based and firm pathways. Also, we recommend the following principles to the Director of the Environmental Protection and the Hong Kong Observatory as fundamental components of a holistic climate policy:  

Realise a higher RE target by 2035
In the recently published Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050 (Environment Bureau, 2021), the Hong Kong Government sets a target by reducing the total carbon emissions by 50% from the 2005 level before 2035, that is, to set a cap on 21.87 million tonnes of CO2 emissions on 2035. If we need to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, it is doubtful that setting such a low and unambitious target in using Renewable Energy (RE) in 2035 (from the existing less than 1% in the total fuel mix and electricity production to 7.5-10%) can fulfill the ultimate goal. 

The current Feed-in Tariff (FiT) system can only reduce 210,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, which accounts for only 0.5% of Hong Kong’s total carbon emissions per year. On the other hand, it is estimated that Hong Kong has the potential to install 5.97 GW of rooftop PV, which could produce approximately 6000 GWh of electricity annually. This would meet approximately 14% of Hong Kong’s electricity demand. (Kevin Lo, 2017). Certainly, Hong Kong can set a higher RE target in 2035 together with wind energy and waste-to-energy. It is doubtful that the current target of RE production is efficient to meet the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Also, with the lack of Market-Based Instruments (MBIs) (see paragraph 2 below), it is hardly possible to balance the CO2 released into the atmosphere from Hong Kong.

Solar energy has its potential in Hong Kong due to its long exposure to daylight. With the Hong Kong's Pilot Floating Photovoltaic System in Shek Pik Reservoir and Plover Cove Reservoir reaping initial success by producing 240,000 kWh per year (Water Supplies Department, 2021), it is expected that Hong Kong could satisfy a higher proportion of energy demand from using solar energy as a major energy mix by intensifying the installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems in public open spaces, vacant land (with 88 ha of vacant government land readily available) (HKSARG, 2021) , brownfield sites and reservoirs. 

2. Implement the Market-Based Instruments (MBIs) by 2023

Some of the new environmental policy instruments are present in Hong Kong as a means of environmental governance to steer societal transformation towards climate resilience and sustainable development. For example, the Environmental Management Systems and ISO 14001 have been launched by the Environmental Protection Department with its support to Small and Medium Enterprises  from the construction and electrical/electronic sectors. 

However, MBIs are absent in Hong Kong where no tax or charge was levied on energy use. First Registration Tax and Vehicle License Fee are implemented for drivers. Nevertheless, these two fees do not seem to have had much effect on restricting the surging number of motor vehicles in Hong Kong(Yuzhu, 2010). In Hong Kong, around 67% of the greenhouse gases emission comes from electricity generation. On the other hand, tradable permit system, such as the emission trading system, which is largely adopted in the Netherlands and UK (Jordan, 2005) was absent in Hong Kong. It is suggested that a carbon tax complemented by an effective and practical tradable permit system be applied to ensure controllable carbon emissions. 

From the recently updated Climate Action Plan, it only focuses on 4 main areas of solutions, namely Energy Saving, Green Building, Green Transport and Waste Reduction(Environment Bureau, 2021). There is no investigation and studies on the MBIs. Although the Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group has set up a Carbon Market Work Stream to assess the feasibility of developing Hong Kong into a regional carbon trading centre, the progress is too slow for the implementation of eco-tax or tradable system. 

As a complement, Renewable Energy Certificates are implemented for the polluters to offset their carbon footprints. Nevertheless, there are some limitations, e.g. there is a cap in the electricity produced from renewable energy, and that might lead to demand over supply. Implementing MBIs by 2023 progressively and ensuring eco-taxes to be tested within the context of high carbon products, electricity bills, and aviation emissions are thus suggested. Charges received can be allocated to the funding pool of the decarbonisation financing scheme. Hong Kong should catch up with our Asian neighbours like China, South Korea, and Tokyo, which already have a relatively comprehensive system.

3. Produce a comprehensive climate risk and vulnerability assessment map by 2023.

In the face of heightened risks of coastal and river flooding, extreme temperatures, and intensifying typhoons as climate change exacerbates, Hong Kong is currently lacking a comprehensive climate risk and vulnerability assessment map (the Map) for coordinated disaster planning and adaptive management, unlike her neighbouring counterparts such as Singapore (UNDRR, 2020) and Taiwan (Taiwan Disaster Adaption and Risk Platform, 2021). Incorporating the different types and locations of climate-related hazards, for example areas susceptible to flooding, hot-days and hot-nights, storm surges etc., with demographic information overlaid, the Map would be highly referenceable to inform policy implications for safeguarding and optimising social capitals for the vulnerable communities that dwell within hazardous regions, formulating crisis management plans, as well as developing hazard resistant infrastructures. The Map should be jointly produced by all relevant Government Departments and be publicly accessible to raise awareness in the community of the imminent risks of climate change and the corresponding mitigation and adaptation measures that help alleviate such risks. 

4. Update the guidelines on environmental education in schools

Environmental education is crucial to instill knowledge, alter attitude and induce behavioural change. Education about the environment (i.e. scientific knowledge) , education in the environment (i.e.outdoor education) and education for the environment (i.e. conservation-oriented knowledge) are essential perspectives to implementing effective education (Tilbury, 1995).    

Nonetheless, environmental education in Hong Kong attaches excessive importance to scientific knowledge, overlooking the significance of altering attitude and behaviour (Lai, 2010; Lai & Lam, 2013). Education in the environment and for the environment are also not emphasized. 

Therefore, there is a need to update the existing “Guidelines on Environmental Education in Schools” published by the Education Bureau (EDB) in 1999 (EDB, 1999). To begin with, EDB is suggested to mandate regular review of the existing curriculum that are highly relevant to environmental studies, for instance General Studies, Liberal Studies, Biology and Geography to include the most relevant and updated synthesis of environmental knowledge. Whilst other subjects where implications on environmental education are subtler, room for the inclusion of relevant environmental education elements needs to be explored. For instance, sustainable development goals, the most updated findings and implications of the reports published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, carbon neutrality and just transition need to be introduced to students. Furthermore, the curriculum should place emphasis on the environment and about the environment to bring change in attitude and behaviour. Last but not least, in terms of teacher professional development, teachers must be trained and equipped with conceptual knowledge of environmental education and updated knowledge of sustainable development and the progress of environmental and climate actions.

5. Improve the waste management plan

Notwithstanding the municipal solid waste charging bill was passed in August this year, there is still room for improvement in terms of waste management. Firstly, the government should enact a law mandating waste separation and charging municipal solid waste based on the types of waste to complement the municipal solid waste charging bill. In Korea, its government rolled out the Waste Control Act in 1986 requiring citizens to separate their waste. Moreover, despite establishing recycling stations, stores and spots and community smart recycling vehicles, the loophole of recycling systems in public and private housings - the separated recyclables are sent to landfills instead - needs to be dealt with to ensure that recyclable resources are properly handled. It enhances public trust towards the proper recycling mechanism in Hong Kong and reduces the amount of waste which will otherwise be sent to landfills. Also, to avert overpackaging, the government should extend the scope of the Regulation of Disposable Plastic Tableware to packaging. The Korean government bans overpackaging and the use of certain non-recyclable plastics by enacting an Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources (TUV Rheinland, 2019). Lastly, the levy scheme on plastic bags should be revised to increase the charge from HKD0.5 to HKD1 to maintain existing effectiveness. 

 

References:

IPCC, 2021. Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Masson-Delmotte, V., P. Zhai, A. Pirani, S.L. Connors, C. Péan, S. Berger, N. Caud, Y. Chen, L. Goldfarb, M.I. Gomis, M. Huang, K. Leitzell, E. Lonnoy, J.B.R. Matthews, T.K. Maycock, T. Waterfield, O. Yelekçi, R. Yu, and B. Zhou (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press. In Press.

HKSARG, 2021. Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050 [Online].2021. Available from: https://www.gov.hk/en/residents/environment/compliance/cem.htm 

HKSARG, 2021. Vacant Government Sites Available for Application for Greening or Government/Institution/Community Uses [Online] Available from: https://geodata.gov.hk/gs/dataset/ec2ddcb0-621a-4c0a-adc4-4f0fbe401a6e 

HKSARG, 2021. Corporate Environmental Governance [Online] Available from: https://www.gov.hk/en/residents/environment/compliance/cem.htm

Environment Bureau, 2021. Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050. Retrieved from https://www.climateready.gov.hk/files/pdf/CAP2050_booklet_en.pdf

Education Bureau, 1999. The Guidelines on Environmental Education in Schools. 

Jordan, A. 2005 The Rise of ‘New’ Policy Instruments in Comparative Perspective: Has Governance Eclipsed Government? 

Kevin Lo, 2017. Renewable Energy Development in Hong Kong: Potential, Progress, and Barriers [Online]. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316058040_Renewable_Energy_Development_in_Hong_Kong_Potential_Progress_and_Barriers

Lai, K. C., 2010. 建立地理科實地考察的新評估觀 . [Establishment of new vision for assessment for geography fieldwork]. The Hong Kong Geographer, 24(1), 12-20.

Lai, K. C., & Lam, C. C., 2013. School-based assessment of fieldwork in Hong Kong. Geography, 98(1), 33-40.

Taiwan Disaster Adaption and Risk Platform, 2021. 全台災害風險圖 [Online, Chinese] Available from: https://dra.ncdr.nat.gov.tw/Frontend/Tools/TotalRisk?RiskType=Flooding

Tilbury, D., 1995. Environmental education for sustainability: Defining the new focus of environmental education in the 1990s. Environmental education research, 1(2), 195-212.

TUV Rheinland, 2019. South Korea - Sub Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources [Online]  Available from: https://www.tuv.com/regulations-and-standards/en/south-korea-sub-act-on-the-promotion-of-saving-and-recycling-of-resources.html

Water Supplies Department, 2021. Floating Solar Power System [Online]. Available from: https://www.wsd.gov.hk/en/home/climate-change/mitigating/floating-solar-power-system/index.html

UNDRR, 2020. Disaster Risk Reduction in Singapore Status Report 2020 [Online] Available from: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.undrr.org%2Fmedia%2F48536%2Fdownload&psig=AOvVaw2QtlJbleDN37gHBOzPlaEK&ust=1634201871451000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=2ahUKEwjSxsrBgsfzAhWzzIsBHXGdATEQ3YkBegQIABAL 

Yuzhu, L, 2010 Enhancing green tax measures in Hong Kong : a means of addressing the city's environmental problems [Online]. Available from: https://commons.ln.edu.hk/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=acct_etd