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The Environment Bureau today (November 6) launched the Hong Kong Climate Change Report 2015, which outlines the work and joint efforts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the key private-sector stakeholders in responding to climate change. It also provides an account of Hong Kong's climate change actions prior to the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference (COP21) so that the public can have a more complete picture of Hong Kong's contributions to concerted global action.
Hosting the launch event, the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, said, "The world has to work very hard over the course of the next few decades to reduce carbon emissions by a substantial margin, even as the population rises and development continues rapidly in emerging economies, in order to maintain the 2 degrees Celsius warming scenario within this century. Hong Kong has followed the complex international negotiations for a successor treaty to the Kyoto Protocol, and we are hopeful that a new agreement could be achieved at COP21 in Paris later this year."
Mr Wong added, "As an international city and a highly advanced economy, Hong Kong wishes to contribute actively to national and global efforts. The HKSAR Government attaches much importance to combating climate change, and has already taken various important actions. These include collaborative efforts by bureaux and departments to undertake various mitigation and adaptation measures. Key stakeholders in the private sector have also taken significant steps."
While climate change is a major challenge, Mr Wong said it also offers the community a chance to improve liveability by embarking on a low-carbon path and acting collectively towards a common goal. This opportunity is very real for a high-density city like Hong Kong, as it has considerable possibilities to enhance environmental assets and physical infrastructure, create green jobs and strengthen social collaboration, he said.
Also at the launch event today, the Under Secretary for Development, Mr Eric Ma, said that the Development Bureau and its departments have been actively participating and studying relevant issues in combating climate change, with a view to making the overall planning of Hong Kong and individual development projects comply with the principle of sustainable development, thereby balancing the social, economic and environmental needs of the community.
On the public housing and transport fronts, the Under Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Yau Shing-mu, spoke on the efforts to combat climate change from various angles including design, setting policy objectives, and operation management. Initiatives include continuous enhancement of the public transport service network and quality so as to attract people to choose public transport as their preferred mobility option, thereby reducing reliance on private cars, as well as implementing energy-saving and carbon reduction measures in the design, building provisions and daily management of public housing, which accommodates nearly half of the population in Hong Kong.
In addition, the Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Mr Shun Chi-ming, briefed participants on global climate projections and how climate change is affecting Hong Kong. The Chairman of the Hong Kong Green Building Council, Mr Conrad Wong, and the Chairman of the Climate Change Business Forum Advisory Group of the Business Environment Council, Mr Eric Chong, also discussed the challenges facing the private sector in meeting the global issue. Also present at the event was the Under Secretary for the Environment, Ms Christine Loh.
The Hong Kong Climate Change Report 2015 is available on the webpages of the Environment Bureau (www.enb.gov.hk) and the Environmental Protection Department (www.epd.gov.hk) for downloading.
Ends/Friday, November 6, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:43
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