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SEE attends COP31 China Pavilion side event in Türkiye (with photos)
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     The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, attended the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, yesterday (November 10, Antalya time). He also delivered a speech at the China Pavilion side event.

     Mr Tse attended the China Pavilion side event under the theme "From Vision to Collaborative Actions: Hong Kong as the Pivot in Green Transformation". The event explored Hong Kong's role, progress and achievements in combatting climate change through energy transition strategies, green technology development, green finance and nature-based solutions. It discussed how Hong Kong, in alignment with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, can leverage its distinctive advantage of having strong support from the motherland and close connection with the world under "one country, two systems" to deepen co-operation with neighbouring regions and the international community.

     In his opening speech, Mr Tse said that the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) (2026-2030) of the HKSAR Government has established a forward-looking strategy with binding indicators setting the bar for promoting green transformation, energy reform, as well as making Hong Kong a cleaner and more enjoyable city.

     He said that Hong Kong's decarbonisation efforts have delivered results. Hong Kong's total carbon emissions peaked in 2014. Compared with the peak, carbon emissions in 2024 were reduced by 27 per cent, with the reduction further expanding to 32 per cent last year.

     He also mentioned that achieving carbon neutrality and building climate resilience requires financial resources, and Hong Kong has unique advantages in this regard. He pointed out that green and sustainable debt issued in Hong Kong totalled more than US$76 billion in 2025. Of this, green and sustainable bonds arranged in Hong Kong accounted for around US$38 billion, placing Hong Kong first in the Asian market for the eighth consecutive years since 2018.

     Looking ahead, he said that the HKSAR Government will further strengthen Hong Kong's role as a "super connector" to help green technology and environmental companies use Hong Kong as a springboard into international markets.

     Member of the Executive Council and the Chairman of the Council for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development, Dr Lam Ching-choi; Co-Chair of Working Group II for the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Professor Debra Roberts; and the Secretary General of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, Mr Gino Van Begin, also delivered speeches at the event on climate science, carbon emission reduction, combatting climate change and collaboration between international cities.

     On the same day, Mr Tse also met with the Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, Mr Aziz Abdukhakimov, to exchange views on issues including combatting climate change and promoting green transition.

     On the other hand, the Commissioner for Climate Change of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, Mr Sammy Yeung, attended the Guangdong Special Event under the theme "Green Sci-Tech Innovation Leads the Way, Together for a Low-Carbon Bay Area" held at the China Pavilion on November 9 (Antalya time). The event focused on governance innovation, technological innovation, and regional collaboration outcomes in green and low-carbon development within the Greater Bay Area (GBA), showcasing the GBA's practices and achievements in combatting climate change as well as Guangdong's distinctive ecological culture.

     During the event, Mr Yeung, alongside Deputy Director-General of the Department of Ecology and Environment of Guangdong Province Ms Zhou Guoying, witnessed the signing of the Framework Agreement on Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Carbon Footage Cooperation between the Guangdong Low-Carbon Development Promotion Association, the CMA Industrial Development Foundation Limited and the Macao International Carbon Emission Exchange.

     Under the Agreement, the three parties will jointly establish the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area Carbon Footprint Working Co-ordination Group, focusing on the development of a cross-regional mutual recognition mechanism for carbon footprint labels, promoting the interoperability and mutual recognition of accounting rules and labels, and deepening co-operation.
 
Ends/Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Issued at HKT 10:00
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The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, attended the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Antalya, Türkiye, yesterday (November 10, Antalya time). Photo shows Mr Tse delivering an opening speech at the China Pavilion side event under the theme "From Vision to Collaborative Actions: Hong Kong as the Pivot in Green Transformation".
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, attended the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Antalya, Türkiye, yesterday (November 10, Antalya time). Photo shows Mr Tse (left) delivering an opening speech at the China Pavilion side event under the theme "From Vision to Collaborative Actions: Hong Kong as the Pivot in Green Transformation".
Member of the Executive Council and the Chairman of the Council for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development, Dr Lam Ching-choi, delivered a speech at the China Pavilion side event under the theme "From Vision to Collaborative Actions: Hong Kong as the Pivot in Green Transformation" during the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Antalya, Türkiye, yesterday (November 10, Antalya time). He elaborated on how urban ecological construction enhances its capacity to cope with and adapt to climate change.
Co-Chair of Working Group II for the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change under the United Nations, Professor Debra Roberts, delivered a speech at the China Pavilion side event under the theme "From Vision to Collaborative Actions: Hong Kong as the Pivot in Green Transformation" during the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Antalya, Türkiye, yesterday (November 10, Antalya time). She explored how to translate the urgent challenges revealed by global climate science into pragmatic city-level climate action.
The Secretary General of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, Mr Gino Van Begin, delivered a speech at the China Pavilion side event under the theme "From Vision to Collaborative Actions: Hong Kong as the Pivot in Green Transformation" during the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Antalya, Türkiye, yesterday (November 10, Antalya time). He highlighted the critical role of local governments in driving climate action and achieving real-world impact.
The China Pavilion side event under the theme "From Vision to Collaborative Actions: Hong Kong as the Pivot in Green Transformation" during the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was held in Antalya, Türkiye, yesterday (November 10, Antalya time). Photo shows the Chief Executive Officer of the Business Environment Council, Mr Simon Ng (left); the Chief Executive Officer of the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market, Ms Amy Merrill (centre); and member of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Independent Standards Board, member of the Supervisory Board of the World Benchmarking Alliance, and Vice-Chairperson of the Friends of the Earth (HK), Professor Anthony Cheung (right), exploring high-integrity carbon markets, green finance and global sustainability standards at the panel discussion "Financing Resilient Cities: From Standards to Bankable Action ".
The China Pavilion side event under the theme "From Vision to Collaborative Actions: Hong Kong as the Pivot in Green Transformation" during the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was held in Antalya, Türkiye, yesterday (November 10, Antalya time). Photo shows Member of the Executive Council and the Chairman of the Council for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development, Dr Lam Ching-choi (left); the President of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Professor Frank Chan (centre); and the Director – Operations of the Business Environment Council, Mr Leung Chi-fung (right), discussing how to support the development of a new energy ecosystem through the synergy of policy, carbon management, infrastructure and professional capacity at the panel discussion "Building the New Energy Ecosystem: Policy, Infrastructure and Professional Capacity".
The Commissioner for Climate Change of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, Mr Sammy Yeung, delivered closing remarks at the China Pavilion side event under the theme "From Vision to Collaborative Actions: Hong Kong as the Pivot in Green Transformation" during the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Antalya, Türkiye, yesterday (November 10, Antalya time).
The China Pavilion side event under the theme "From Vision to Collaborative Actions: Hong Kong as the Pivot in Green Transformation" during the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was held in Antalya, Türkiye, yesterday (November 10, Antalya time). Photo shows the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan (fifth right); the Commissioner for Climate Change of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, Mr Sammy Yeung (first left); and the speakers at the side event.
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan (right), attended the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Antalya, Türkiye, yesterday (November 10, Antalya time), and met with the Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, Mr Aziz Abdukhakimov (left).
The Commissioner for Climate Change of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, Mr Sammy Yeung (back row, left), attended the Guangdong Special Event under the theme "Green Sci-Tech Innovation Leads the Way, Together for a Low-Carbon Bay Area" held at the China Pavilion during the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Antalya, Türkiye, on November 9 (Antalya time). Mr Yeung, alongside Deputy Director-General of the Department of Ecology and Environment of Guangdong Province Ms Zhou Guoying (back row, right), witnessed the signing of the Framework Agreement on Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Carbon Footage Cooperation between the Guangdong Low-Carbon Development Promotion Association, the CMA Industrial Development Foundation Limited and the Macao International Carbon Emission Exchange.