Legco’s approval of the waste charging bill comes with a request for a delay in implementation that makes little sense. The success of the recycling schemes in Taipei and Seoul underline the role civil society can play in building trust and community buy-in.

Working on the goal of carbon neutrality as a shared community project, one that sees the Hong Kong government truly engaging with voices from all parts of society, could be a powerful way of rebuilding trust in a divided city.

With solar and wind power now cheaper than coal and technical problems such as intermittency being solved, investing in renewable energy makes economic sense.

Hong Kong, with key assets just above sea level, faces very real threats from climate change. A new low-carbon charter shows it makes both business and political sense to collaborate with Beijing to improve energy efficiency in buildings and reduce emissions.

The city, with its enviable budget surpluses, has the resources to clean up its environment and lead the circular economy. A waste charging scheme has been announced, and ‘reverse vending machines’ are being considered.

Rising sea levels, pollution and extreme weather are global problems that must be jointly tackled by the best minds in both the US and China. The hi-tech clusters in Silicon Valley and the Greater Bay Area must lead the way.