Climate Blog
2024-10-16
CarbonCare InnoLab Responds to Hong Kong SAR's 2024 Policy Address
On October 16, Chief Executive John Lee Ka Chiu presented his third Policy Address. CarbonCare InnoLab expresses disappointment at the limited measures proposed to address climate change in this Policy Address. In 2021, the SAR government published the "Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050," setting goals to halve carbon emissions by 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. According to the Paris Agreement adopted by the United Nations in 2015, parties are required to reduce emissions by 43% from 2019 levels by 2030 to limit global average temperature increase to within 1.5°C. However, reviewing the ongoing climate disasters worldwide in recent years, including extreme heat waves, super typhoons, and severe rainstorms, and noting that global temperatures in the first nine months of this year have either broken all-time highs or ranked second highest each month, it repeatedly reminds us that Hong Kong's current measures for climate change mitigation and adaptation are still far from sufficient.
CarbonCare InnoLab will send youth representatives to participate in the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in November this year. One of the important agendas this year is how to mobilise governments to propose carbon reduction targets for 2035 and beyond in their third Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to be submitted in February next year. In addition to national government representatives, many local and city government representatives are also actively participating in COP29 activities, demonstrating their determination and ambition to take measures to achieve the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target and their NDCs. However, this year's Hong Kong SAR government Policy Address lacks climate vision and ambition. New measures related to climate and energy are only categorised under finance, innovative technology, and low-carbon living, indicating that the government has not prioritised the systemic problems brought by climate change, nor has it addressed them from an overall institutional perspective.
Climate Mitigation
1. Review of Mid-term Carbon Reduction Targets: The Policy Address once again fails to mention whether the Climate Action Plan 2050 will be reviewed in 2025 and whether mid-term carbon reduction targets will be raised. CarbonCare InnoLab expresses disappointment. The Paris Watch Report published by CarbonCare InnoLab pointed out that Hong Kong still lacks a credible path to carbon neutrality by 2050, and suggested adopting 5-year interim carbon reduction targets on the path to 2050 carbon neutrality, and raising the 2030 target to halve carbon emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. CarbonCare InnoLab believes the Policy Address should account for Hong Kong's carbon reduction path and regularly publish progress reports to further institutionalize climate accountability.
2. Renewable Energy Policy: The Policy Address proposes subsidies for taxis and buses to purchase electric vehicles, trials of hydrogen fuel cell heavy vehicles, expansion of charging networks, and promotion of sustainable aviation fuel, green marine fuel, green hydrogen, and low-carbon hydrogen energy. While CarbonCare InnoLab welcomes these, it notes the absence of globally accelerating renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. The proposed measures seem more symbolic than substantial. CarbonCare InnoLab believes that these new energy measures still fail to clearly demonstrate how Hong Kong will achieve its goals of halving carbon emissions by 2035 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, let alone respond to last year's COP28 host country's call to "triple" renewable energy targets.
Moreover, current electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel are still mainly powered and produced by fossil fuels. Even the development of solar-powered hydrogen production devices is on a small scale. Given the current global green hydrogen development, the scale is not yet fully formed and unable to change the long-term dependence of energy structures on fossil fuels. Developing waste-to-energy without a comprehensive waste recycling system will only lead to increasing reliance on waste-to-energy technology without achieving true circular economy. Only by directly and significantly raising targets for renewable energy such as solar and wind power, and vigorously developing related industries, can Hong Kong's energy transition be comprehensively accelerated. As for green hydrogen, the government should provide a roadmap and timeline for large-scale production and import of green hydrogen.
3. Floating Solar PV Systems on Reservoirs: The Policy Address does not propose new floating solar PV systems on reservoirs as it did last year, which disappoints CarbonCare InnoLab. The organisation believes the government should continue to expand the scale of floating solar PV systems to significantly increase the proportion of local renewable energy, which would help promote changes in Hong Kong's energy structure.
4. Resource Management: CarbonCare InnoLab expresses disappointment that the Policy Address fails to provide a timeline for the municipal solid waste charging scheme, only continuing to promote waste reduction and recycling. The government must quickly assess the timeline for reintroducing the scheme and invite outdoor cleaning workers and relevant practitioners to participate and provide opinions when relaunching public consultation.
5. Carbon Audit: The Policy Address proposes extending carbon audits applicable to government buildings to government infrastructure facilities. CarbonCare InnoLab welcomes this but notes it falls short of their recommendation to apply it to government procurement and departmental operations. CarbonCare InnoLab believes the government should continuously promote carbon audits across departments and support listed companies, SMEs, and other organizations in conducting carbon audits for their operations.
Climate Adaptation
1. Vulnerable Groups Under Climate Change: The Policy Address fails to mention how vulnerable groups should cope with climate change. CarbonCare InnoLab hopes the government will not only focus on emergency management but also actively address the practical issues faced by the most vulnerable groups in extreme weather conditions, making climate adaptation plans more comprehensive and inclusive. Vulnerable groups such as low-income families living in subdivided flats, the elderly, disabled individuals, and outdoor workers often bear a disproportionate impacts of climate disasters but lack adequate support to cope with. The government must engage in in-depth dialogue with vulnerable groups regarding extreme weather conditions and develop strategies that meet their needs.
2. Elimination of Inadequate Housing: CarbonCare InnoLab expresses regret that the Policy Address fails to comprehensively eliminate subdivided flats, and instead euphemistically refers to so-called standard-compliant subdivided flats as "Basic Housing Units." This shows the government's lack of confidence in solving the subdivided flat problem. Moreover, it fails to address the extreme heat and poor air circulation issues in these flats. The government must address housing supply to eliminate inadequate housing in the long term, ensuring housing safety and climate change adaptability. The government must also arrange for residents of subdivided flats to move into resettlement facilities, including transitional housing and Light Public Housing, as soon as possible.
CarbonCare InnoLab urges the Housing Bureau to update the principles for evaluating tenders in the "Project Implementation Guidelines" of the funding scheme supporting NGO transitional housing projects. This should ensure that the relevant facilities and designs have climate adaptation capabilities, including:
- Building materials and cooling equipment should have sufficient heat prevention, cooling, and heat dissipation capabilities, with energy-saving and carbon reduction effects.
- Regarding ventilation, the geographical factors of buildings should be considered, with adequate windows and other ventilation equipment. The community should have sufficient public spaces and green areas to ensure air circulation within units and between buildings.
- Buildings should have proper wind and water resistance designs, including building materials, door and window materials, and drainage systems, to withstand strong typhoons and rainstorms.
Climate Finance
1. Climate Budget: The Policy Address still does not disclose the spending plan and details of the HK$240 billion climate budget announced in 2021. CarbonCare InnoLab expresses disappointment, as it is difficult to assess whether public financial resources are being effectively used for measures to address climate change. CarbonCare InnoLab hopes that the government will publish the relevant plans and details as soon as possible to enhance public confidence in public financial support for climate policies.
2. Green Finance: The Policy Address states that the Hong Kong Monetary Authority will launch a "Sustainable Finance Action Plan," expand the coverage of Hong Kong's sustainable finance taxonomy, and introduce a roadmap for Hong Kong's full adoption of the International Financial Reporting Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB) by the end of this year. CarbonCare InnoLab welcomes all of the above and looks forward to the government publishing detailed contents of the relevant action plans and roadmaps as soon as possible. The organization hopes the government will continue to communicate with the industry on how to maintain consistency with international sustainable financial disclosure standards and reduce greenwashing risks, thereby consolidating Hong Kong's leadership position in the field of green finance.
Climate Governance
1. Climate-Resilient Green Transition: Overall, the measures in the Policy Address are still based on promoting traditional economic growth. The parts related to accelerating green transformation in production focus only on specific areas, without fully integrating climate change impact assessment and mitigation into policies and planning. Currently, most measures are based on individual departmental considerations, neglecting the overall societal progress in carbon reduction. CarbonCare InnoLab urges the government to clearly articulate the vision of moving towards carbon neutrality in the Policy Address, rather than relegating it to a single chapter, to truly guide Hong Kong towards becoming a climate-resilient and net-zero emissions city.
2. Achieving Just Transition: The Policy Address also fails to respond to CarbonCare InnoLab's suggestion to strengthen public participation in climate action decision-making through community dialogue, especially the inclusion of youth and vulnerable groups. As stated in the "Hong Kong Just Transition Report" published by CarbonCare InnoLab, the government must strengthen key areas of climate resilience for the whole society, especially vulnerable groups. This includes maintaining physical and mental health, stabilizing living costs, ensuring access to information, improving transportation, adjusting work environments and arrangements, and promoting green lifestyles to achieve a just transition for the entire society.
In conclusion, CarbonCare InnoLab hopes that the government will formulate more ambitious and decisive policies in climate mitigation and adaptation, finance, and governance to accelerate Hong Kong's just transition towards a sustainable, net-zero emissions, and climate-resilient future. Through coordination between the government and society, based on science and climate justice principles, Hong Kong has the capacity to play the role of a global climate action leader and green finance centre, safeguarding the city's sustainable development in the long term.
References:
1. CarbonCare InnoLab (CCIL)’s Submission to the 2024 Policy Address Public Consultation
2. Hong Kong Just Transition Report
3. Paris Watch Hong Kong Climate Action Reports