Editorial | Warming city cannot afford to waste time in climate change battle

Hong Kong is in for a sweltering summer. The Observatory forecasts that 2023 will be one of the 10 warmest years on record. The dire prediction was announced on March 23, only days after the United Nations warned that climate change is hitting the world faster than expected, with higher temperatures and more extreme meteorological events now likely.

It is time for the city to act quickly to avert the deadly and costly effects of the heat, as well as stay focused on the fight against climate change.

Last year was the sixth hottest in Hong Kong since records began in 1884. There were 11 record-breaking weather events, including 15 days when maximum temperatures reached 35 degrees Celsius or more. The previous record was six days, set in 2016.

The hot weather only added to health woes in communities struggling with the pandemic. The number of heatstroke cases linked to outdoor activities in the first three weeks of July nearly doubled from the previous month, according to the Fire Services Department. A survey found more than half of outdoor sanitation and pest control workers reported heat-related illnesses. Twenty per cent suffered daily from dizziness, breathing difficulties, exhaustion or headaches. While it is unclear if the heat was to blame, several outdoor workers died while on duty during the hottest months.

It is encouraging to see authorities taking steps to prepare for more hot weather. The Observatory has just unveiled a new “extremely hot” warning to be issued when temperatures climb above 35 degrees. Last July, Labour Department guidelines for the first time included a heat index that takes into account factors such as humidity, direct sunlight exposure, the intensity of work, and fabrics used in workwear.

Under the guidelines, employers are alerted about the risks when temperatures and humidity exceed 32 degrees and 85 per cent respectively, but they stop short of recommending a suspension of work in such conditions. Scientists and officials in the city are, meanwhile, working with their counterparts on the mainland and around the world to study the health impacts of hot weather and strengthen warning systems.