The Environment & Ecology Bureau today released the 2023 greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventory for Hong Kong and updated the methodology for compiling its GHG emission inventory.

The bureau pointed out that the Government has used the Global Warming Potential (GWP) values set out in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) to compile the 2023 GHG emission inventory.

It has also updated previous GHG emission figures, using the new GWP values, in order to reflect annual variations and long-term trends.

In updating the methodology, the Government has complied with the requirement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Based on the calculation using AR5's GWP values, Hong Kong’s total GHG emissions in 2023 amounted to about 34.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e), representing a decrease of about 20% compared with 2005 levels and a decrease of around 25% from the peak emissions in 2014.

Per capita GHG emissions amounted to approximately 4.58 tonnes in 2023, a new low since 1990, and 30% lower compared with 2005 and 2014. It is also about a quarter of the US level and 60% of the European Union level.

Carbon intensity in 2023 was 0.012 kg CO2-e per Hong Kong dollar GDP, about 46% lower than that in 2005.

Electricity generation continued to be the major source of emissions, generating 61% of total emissions in 2023. Other major emission sources were transport, accounting for 18% of the total, and waste management, which accounted for 8%.