Letters | Hong Kong must sustainably balance ecological conservation and development

Readers discuss the debate over the San Tin Technopole, and the practice of feeding pigeons

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Great and little egrets at San Tin, Yuen Long, in December 2023. The area is slated for development into a technology hub. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Published: 11:30am, 16 Sep 2024

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The recent debate over the San Tin Technopole has centred around the conflict between innovation and technology development and the preservation of wetlands. Supporting innovation and technology development is essential to reducing our carbon footprint. Finding a balance between development and conservation is possible and necessary for a sustainable future.

One significant aspect of this balance is the adoption of renewable energy. The International Renewable Energy Agency estimates that renewable sources could meet up to 86 per cent of global power demand by 2050 with appropriate investment. Shifting to renewable energy reduces our dependence on fossil fuels, a significant source of carbon emissions, and complements conservation efforts. Innovation and technology play a crucial role in advancing renewable energy sources.

Furthermore, energy-efficient building design has the potential to reduce energy consumption by 20-50 per cent, according to a US Department of Energy report. By using innovative material and technology, new developments can significantly decrease their carbon footprint and resource use while meeting housing and commercial needs.

Sustainable urban development also plays a critical role in this balance. Urban areas are responsible for over 70 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions. Innovations such as urban green space, efficient public transport and sustainable architecture can encourage development while promoting biodiversity and reducing emissions.

Developing a new city using new building design and material will not only reduce carbon emissions but also consolidate our experience in rebuilding older areas of Hong Kong.

Moreover, technology offers significant promise. For example, artificial intelligence applications in smart grids optimise power distribution and usage. Google’s implementation of technology resulted in up to a 40 per cent reduction in energy usage for cooling its data centres. Our own Zero Carbon Building in Kowloon Bay reduced energy usage by about 25 per cent through technology applications, and an MTR trial project at a chiller plant in Sha Tin reduced energy usage by 8.7 per cent.