What has Hong Kong done to tackle climate change? Next to nothing
Benoit Mayer says the city’s failure to fully join the battle against climate change, with excuses such as a lack of space or the cost of clean energy, displays a lack of sincere commitment to sustainable development
But what about Hong Kong? Does its small size exonerate the city from any action at all? This line of reasoning has been the greatest impediment to climate action anywhere in the past quarter of a century, as every government thought its efforts would only have a negligible effect. Few countries did anything at all, and none enough to avoid the risk of a climate crisis.
We are taught not to litter: not because one piece of paper thrown on the street would have a big impact; issues would only arise if many did the same. We know we need to act as responsible citizens, displaying behaviour for all to adopt. But what credibility does the government have in asking us to act responsibly when it itself ignores global responsibilities?
Hong Kong joined the C40 Large Cities Climate Leadership Group in 2007. But it has since failed to complete any of the four phases of the initiative.
Cities, not nations, will lead fight against climate change
In September 2010, the Environment Bureau held a public consultation on an objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2020. Yet, as of 2014, emissions had increased by 9 per cent.