Why Hong Kong must adopt nature-based solutions in the Northern Metropolis

Incorporating nature-based solutions can help resolve the tensions between conserving Hong Kong’s environment and promoting development

Otherwise, the city risks falling behind its peers, missing out on high-quality development and being left out of national and global initiatives

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Lok Ma Chau at the northwest border in Hong Kong. The site of the proposed Northern Metropolis is an ecologically sensitive area with wetlands important to Hong Kong’s well-being, making it essential for the government to strike a balance between preserving the environment and pursuing development. Photo: May Tse

Kitty TamandCalvin Au

Published: 9:30am, 25 Nov 2023

The Northern Metropolis development plan faces many challenges in striking a balance between conservation and development. Although the area possesses valuable natural resources, such as wetlands, which are crucial for the city’s well-being, Hong Kong is dealing with limited land that is suitable for development, resulting in a severe shortage of living space and a stalled industrial transformation.

Developing the Northern Metropolis adjacent to the innovation and technology hub of Shenzhen is essential to improving Hongkongers’ quality of life. The plan for the San Tin Technopole, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s recent policy address and the Northern Metropolis Action Agenda have all individually attempted to address conservation and development but lack widespread support.

Seeking the harmonious coexistence of conservation and development, environmental activists have put an emphasis on the protection of wetland conservation areas. Is the conflict between conservation and development inevitable? Nature-based solutions could be the answer.

Nature-based solutions, introduced in the early 2000s by the World Bank and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), encompass actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore ecosystems. This concept underscores the use of functioning ecosystems to effectively address societal challenges.