************************************************************
The Hong Kong/Guangdong Joint Liaison Group on Combating Climate Change (JLGCCC) held its second meeting in Hong Kong today (July 2). The meeting was co-chaired by the Secretary for the Environment of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Mr Wong Kam-sing, and the Deputy Director of the Guangdong Development and Reform Commission (GDDRC), Mr Lu Xiulu. The meeting reviewed the collaboration of the two sides in 2012-13, and agreed on a work plan for 2013-14. The collaboration in the past year mainly included:
* The Hong Kong Observatory and the Guangdong Meteorological Bureau agreed on the details of an information exchange mechanism for severe climate events, and started the exchange in January 2013;
* The Environment Bureau held a workshop on climate change adaptation for the financial services sector in March 2013. The GDDRC and the Finance Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province led a Mainland delegation to attend the workshop. The workshop promoted exchanges on climate change adaptation for the trade in the two places; and
* The GDDRC and the Environment Bureau jointly organised a technical seminar on renewable energy and electric vehicles in Zhuhai in May 2013.
The work plan for 2013-14 mainly includes:
* Organising a technical seminar on the climate projection for the Pearl River Delta Region in the 21st century, focusing on projection methodologies, data analysis and study results;
* Jointly organising an exchange session or sessions on climate change adaptation issues that are of interest to both sides, including relevant study findings and implementation experiences;
* Jointly exploring and exchanging on measures and technologies of energy conservation and efficiency in buildings; and
* Participation by Hong Kong in a carbon trading seminar to be organised by the GDDRC to discuss the setting of standards for reporting and verification of the carbon footprints of businesses, and the design of related systems.
The JLGCCC was set up under the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference in 2011, with a view to co-operating on combating climate change, co-ordinating relevant measures and activities, and promoting related scientific research and technology development. Two working groups have been set up under the JLGCCC to initiate and take forward co-operation initiatives and to enhance exchanges on climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Government bureaux and departments attending the meeting today included, from Hong Kong, the Environment Bureau; the Environmental Protection Department; the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department; the Hong Kong Observatory; the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; the Drainage Services Department; the Civil Engineering and Development Department; the Department of Health; and the Transport Department. The Guangdong government bodies in attendance were the GDDRC; the Provincial Meteorological Bureau, the Provincial Climate Centre; the Provincial Environmental Protection Department; the Provincial Academy of Sciences; the Provincial Department of Health; the Provincial Department of Land and Resources; the Provincial Communications Department; the Provincial Water Resources Department; the Provincial Forestry Department; the Provincial Administration of Ocean and Fisheries; the Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development; and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, the People's Government of Guangdong Province.
Ends/Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:45
NNNN
