Government advisers say Hong Kong should be carbon neutral by 2050, but critics take issue with ‘lukewarm’ approach
- Target will not be easy to hit, but is the responsible aim, Council for Sustainable Development chairman says
- Environmental groups, however, fault the long-delayed report’s conservative recommendations and focus on nuclear energy
The report from the Council for Sustainable Development, which advises the government on environmental matters, drew on more than 71,000 responses to a public engagement exercise in June last year to formulate 55 recommendations covering sectors such as energy generation, transport and urban design.
“It is not easy to achieve a net zero carbon target by 2050, but the council thinks it is a responsible and appropriate choice,” Arthur Li Kwok-cheung, chairman of the council, said in a press conference on Friday.
“Asia is moving in that direction [of carbon neutrality], and Hong Kong cannot be left behind,” Li said.
The council’s new suggestions include both short- and long-term goals, placing particular focus on imported nuclear energy, while also encouraging research into renewable sources such as green hydrogen.
The recommendations also call for incentives and penalties to encourage developers to build more sustainable buildings, as well as transitioning towards low-carbon transport systems and accelerating the replacement of fossil fuel vehicles with lower-emission ones.