Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan attended the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in in Azerbaijan yesterday.

Mr Tse delivered an opening speech at a side event titled “Climate Action: From Climate Science to New Energy Development Opportunities” held by the Environment & Ecology Bureau and the Hong Kong Observatory at the China Pavilion.

In his speech, he elaborated on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's strategies and progress of combating climate change.

Apart from pointing out that Hong Kong reached carbon peak in 2014 and set a target to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050, Mr Tse added that Hong Kong's per capita carbon emission in 2023 was about 4.4 tonnes, which is a reduction by almost 30% from the 2014 level.

He noted that Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050 has a four-pronged strategy, which includes net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport and waste reduction.

Under the strategy, there are three important targets. The first one is to stop using coal for power generation before 2035. At this moment, coal accounts for less than 20% of Hong Kong's current fuel mix for power generation.

The second objective calls for promoting green transport. As such, the Hong Kong SAR Government will cease the registration of new fossil fuel-powered and hybrid private cars by 2035. In the first half of this year, six to seven out of every 10 newly registered private cars in Hong Kong were electric vehicles.

The third goal concerns dealing with methane from landfills. The Hong Kong SAR Government is working to stop using landfills before 2035. Mr Tse emphasised that the first waste-to-energy incinerator will come into operation next year and the Hong Kong SAR Government will tender out in December to build the second one which can treat 6,000 tonnes of waste per day.

Additionally, Mr Tse stated that Hong Kong is a regional hub and a gateway from the country to the other parts of the world.

He highlighted that the country has many innovative products and new technologies that can help with greening the future and reducing carbon emissions. This, Mr Tse said, will help with building infrastructures and cities in a green, low carbon and safe manner. He stressed that Hong Kong can be a gateway for introducing such green technologies and products to other parts of the world.

Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization Celeste Saulo delivered a speech titled “Early Warning Systems for Effective Climate Action” during the side event.

Furthermore, Commissioner for Climate Change Wong Chuen-fai and Hong Kong Observatory Assistant Director Sandy Song shared the Hong Kong SAR Government's hydrogen energy development strategy, as well as climate service and climate change adaptation at the COP29 event.

​Mr Tse also met Ms Saulo before the side event yesterday, and exchanged views on issues such as strengthening international co-operation in response to extreme weather and green energy transformation.

Today, the environment chief plans to attend the US-China Subnational Climate Leaders Dialogue, hosted by the California-China Climate Institute, to introduce Hong Kong's climate resilience strategy.