Soaring heat, choking pollution: Hong Kong’s citizens and leaders cannot ignore climate change

Climate change is often overlooked in Hong Kong. We don’t suffer the extreme weather many other countries face and natural disasters are limited to the occasional blustery typhoon.

But we are not immune. Hong Kong has seen one of its warmest ever starts to the year and we don’t need record books to tell us this. The heat, the pollution, the suffocating air that we breathe is all down to our own making. Media reports on March 1 showed Central district recording an air quality index of 190 – several times worse than in Beijing.

I have made lifestyle changes by recycling, plus conserving water and energy. However, this is not enough. It takes the effort of a large group of individuals with the support of government and policymakers to deliver real impact.

I hope Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor will help raise awareness of the environmental challenge. We need to educate everyone to recognise the issue and make lifestyle and household changes to protect our planet. Simple things such as extending the plastic bag levy scheme to include plastic cups, plates and cutlery or encouraging Hongkongers to take public transport will make a huge long-term difference.