Secretary for the Environment KS Wong said the Government attaches great importance to combating climate change and implements multipronged strategies to achieve carbon neutrality.

The 2020 Policy Address announced that Hong Kong would strive to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. In response to a lawmaker’s question today, Mr Wong said the city is moving towards the 2030 target of reducing carbon intensity by 65% to 70% compared to 2005 based on Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2030+.

To reduce carbon emissions, the Government has taken measures in areas like waste management, energy supply, green building, green transport, cleaner production and green finance.

In addition, the Government will capitalise on the opportunities to strengthen exchanges and collaboration with other Greater Bay Area cities in building low-carbon communities, developing carbon reduction technologies and promoting low-carbon products.

Mr Wong noted that achieving carbon neutrality is a very challenging target that requires support from different professionals and talents to better the development and application of innovation and technology.

To this end, the Council for Sustainable Development proactively collects views through public engagement on a long-term decarbonisation strategy. Dialogue is underway with various professional bodies on possible ways to achieve carbon-neutrality.

To enhance staff development within the Government, an inter-departmental task force has been set up to study the global development of relevant technologies and strategies, Mr Wong said.

Through initiatives such as the Green Tech Fund and the Cleaner Production Partnership Programme, the Government will also support the research and development and decarbonisation efforts of local organisations and industries, with a view to enhancing the city’s soft and hard power, moving towards carbon neutrality, he added.