Climate action plan announced

October 8, 2021

Secretary for the Environment KS Wong:

We have the Chief Executive to head the Steering Committee on Climate Change & Carbon Neutrality. So we have the topmost level (of the Government’s) support and steer on the whole issue and it (will be) attended by different bureaus and departments. 

And, we will set up the new Office (of Climate Change & Carbon Neutrality) that will be under the Environment Bureau. You would probably note that the Policy Address also mentioned (the idea of advocating dedicated positions with specific responsibilities), (which) is the commissioner’s idea. 

So we are considering whether we should dovetail with this office - we could have a commissioner on this - so that for the Government, internally and also externally, we could have a focused contact point and office to (work on) Hong Kong’s climate actions. 

At the same time, we have other support (for) the office. As mentioned in the yearly roadmap launched earlier, we have set up an interdepartmental carbon neutrality task force involving colleagues from different departments to consider what are the latest technologies (and) ideas that may be relevant to Hong Kong so that they would have the appropriate technical support (for) the office and the whole Government. 

And last but not least, we would have a dedicated advisory committee, as mentioned earlier in the plan, that would also liaise with the key stakeholders in Hong Kong including young people. This (would create) a good connection internally and externally and also even locally and globally, so that we can, through this office, strengthen our climate actions.

(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Government today announced Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050, setting out the vision of Zero-carbon Emissions ‧ Liveable City ‧ Sustainable Development and outlining the strategies and targets for combating climate change and achieving carbon neutrality.

In response to the Paris Agreement, the Government presented Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2030+ in 2017. The Chief Executive announced in her Policy Address last year that Hong Kong would strive to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050.

Unveiling the updated climate action plan at a press conference this afternoon, Secretary for the Environment KS Wong said: “In 2019, electricity generation was Hong Kong's largest source of carbon emissions, followed by transport and waste. Therefore, our carbonisation work should focus on these three key areas.”

The new plan outlines the four major decarbonisation strategies and measures, namely net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport and waste reduction.

In the next 15 to 20 years, the Government will devote about $240 billion to take forward various measures on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Mr Wong described the Chief Executive’s commitment to the decarbonisation work and how the Government may consider appointing a commissioner to new Office of Climate Change & Carbon Neutrality.

“We have the Chief Executive to head the Steering Committee on Climate Change & Carbon Neutrality. So we have the topmost level of the Government’s support and steer on the whole issue and it will be attended by different bureaus and departments.

“And, we will set up the new Office of Climate Change & Carbon Neutrality that will be under the Environment Bureau. You would probably note that the Policy Address also mentioned the idea of advocating dedicated positions with specific responsibilities, which is the commissioner’s idea.

“So we are considering whether we should dovetail with this office - we could have a commissioner on this - so that for the Government, internally and also externally, we could have a focused contact point and office to work on Hong Kong’s climate actions.”

Additionally, the Government plans to form an advisory committee on combating climate change to encourage the community to actively participate in climate action, Mr Wong added.

“And last but not least, we would have a dedicated advisory committee, as mentioned earlier in the plan, that would also liaise with the key stakeholders in Hong Kong including young people. This would create a good connection internally and externally and also even locally and globally, so that we can, through this office, strengthen our climate actions.”

Click here for the new plan.