LettersZero carbon Hong Kong by 2050: four ways to walk the talk

The government’s carbon neutrality pledge must be incorporated into various aspects of development planning

Hong Kong must aim for a green recovery, develop renewables and take much-needed action, instead of conducting even more studies

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Chief Executive Carrie Lam poses for photographs with copies of her policy address, during a news conference in Hong Kong on November 25. Her fourth policy blueprint set out strategies and proposals to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 6:45am, 8 Dec 2020Updated: 6:45am, 8 Dec 2020

In its latest policy address, the Hong Kong government committed itself to achieving “carbon neutrality before 2050” and producing a more detailed plan by mid-2021. CarbonCare InnoLab welcomes the pledge, but is disappointed as the promise appears to stand isolated in terms of policymaking.

For Hong Kong to become carbon neutral within 30 years, it requires intensive innovation and fundamental shifts in many aspects of development planning. Carbon reduction measures, essential to Hong Kong’s responsibilities under the Paris climate agreement, will have profound implications for the city’s development – bringing new opportunities for serious action on climate change.

However, this vision and thoughtfulness does not appear at the heart of the latest policy address. The concept of sustainability and carbon neutrality is not incorporated in any other sections, such as finance, economy, innovation, technology, smart cities and education.

We call on the government to walk the talk by taking the following actions.