The Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Past Event
2021-11-06
“The 2021 Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) cum a Review of the Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050” Live Streaming Event
Six Hong Kong Youth Delegates sent by CarbonCare InnoLab, Ms. Hermia Chan, Mr. Mark Cheung, Mr. Ryan Fung, Ms. Blaire Ho, Ms. Fun Ho and Ms. Priscilla Lin, attended the 2021 Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow, the United Kingdom from 31 October to 13 November. CarbonCare InnoLab held a live streaming event on “ the 2021 Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) cum a brief review of Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050”.
There were two sessions. The first part was the brief review of Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050 (the Blueprint) by Mr. Kevin Li, the researcher at CarbonCare InnoLab. The researcher introduced the Blueprint and reviewed if it aligns with the Paris Agreement, for instance, if the Blueprint could meet the goal of limiting temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius. He reviewed the Blueprint from five aspects, which are carbon emission, renewable energy, building energy efficiency and transport, climate adaptation, and leadership and governance. From his point of view, there are explicit goals in the Blueprint. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of policy and initiative based on the scientific based target. Besides, in terms of climate adaptation and public engagement, Hong Kong is still falling behind. To achieve carbon neutrality in Hong Kong by 2050, there is still room for improvement for the Hong Kong government to review the Blueprint.
The second part was the live streaming session by six Hong Kong Youth Delegates at the venue of COP26 sharing their experience of attending the first week of COP26 and answering questions from the participants. They mentioned they met Mr. Xie Zhenhua, the Special Representative on Climate Change Affairs of China, and John Kerry, the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. Besides, they shared their experience of engaging in the working groups of YOUNGO under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, like Action for Climate Empowerment and Cities working groups. They shared their opinion on climate actions with negotiators and participated in the negotiation meeting as observers. They wished to speak on behalf of YOUNGO to air their views in the negotiation meeting in the second week of COP26. Moreover, they shared their experience at COP26 and exchanged their views on their local governments’ climate actions with other youths at the pavilions. Last but not least, they closely followed the progress of negotiations and different pledges made by countries to review on how it can help to achieve the goals of limiting temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius and promoting climate justice.
“COP26 as the largest international event after the outbreak of COVID-19, taking into account of the existing and imminent threats, we need to figure out ways to encounter and solve climate change together,” said Mr. Chong Chanyau, the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of CarbonCare InnoLab.
The live streaming event on “the 2021 Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) cum a review of Hong Kong’s Climate Action 2050” was successfully held, in order to deliver better understandings of the Blueprint and share the experience of six Hong Kong Youth Delegates attending COP26. CarbonCare InnoLab wishes six Hong Kong Youth Delegates can promote changes in Hong Kong’s climate actions after attending COP26.