Opinion | Why Hongkongers’ low-carbon lifestyle choices may not be as green as they think

Hongkongers are being encouraged to play their part in tackling climate change, yet they have no way of knowing which actions are most effective

Providing data on emissions saved from going meat-free or recycling allows people to ‘see’ the impact of their green habits

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People shop in a market in Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong, on May 2, 2020. Adopting a plant-based lifestyle in Hong Kong can reduce an individual’s carbon emissions by 1.4 tonnes of CO2e per year. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 6:45am, 7 Jan 2022

Global emissions need to be slashed in half by the end of this decade to have any hope of keeping within 1.5 degrees of warming.

Worryingly, though, Hong Kong’s current Climate Action Plan 2050 is only aiming to halve our emissions by 2035 – perhaps five years too late.

With only eight years left before the tipping point, adopting a low-carbon lifestyle is more crucial than ever.

Existing government and educational resources on low-carbon lifestyles are vague, pointing individuals towards a basket of actions including reducing waste, recycling more frequently, using energy-efficient light bulbs and appliances, and eating more vegetables.

But these recommendations don’t show how much emissions – measured in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) – can be saved if a person decides to switch to a low-carbon alternative. Data is vital for individuals to “visualise” the impact of lifestyle changes which are normally non-observable.

Visualisation allows for a more profound understanding of the consequences of inaction and can help turn climate knowledge into action.