Letters | What Hong Kong must do to survive the deadly impact of a warming Earth
- When global warming hits Hong Kong, deadly heatwaves will become more frequent; we will experience heavier rainfall yet remain water-stressed; food availability will decrease and prices will increase. Before this city becomes even less liveable, we must act
We passed 1 degree Celsius of warming in 2015 and are likely to reach 2 degrees by 2050, at the current pace. These numbers may not sound like a lot, but bear in mind how a couple of degrees’ difference in body temperature would mean the start of a fever.
Also, while plants may enjoy the higher levels of carbon dioxide initially, hotter temperatures and water scarcity would make them less productive. Subsequently, food availability will decrease and food prices will increase as regions become less suitable for agriculture. This is just a small list of the possible impacts of unmitigated climate change.
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For example, the government should task power companies with decarbonising energy grids and making a switch to renewable energy. Renewable energy is already cost-competitive and becomes an even better option when we consider the impact of fossil fuels on health and the environment.
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Second, our consumption habits cannot be ignored either. Hong Kong has a relatively small footprint, as we import most of our goods. If we take those imports into consideration, our per-capita carbon footprint might match that of the United States.
We do not need to avoid all forms of consumption, but we need to learn to consume better instead of just more. The government must work with businesses to make sustainable consumption affordable and comfortable for everybody.
Finally, we should embrace a plant-based diet that is healthier for the planet and ourselves.
We still have a chance to secure our future, let’s not squander this opportunity.
Wendell Chan, Programme Officer, Friends of the Earth (HK)