Opinion | How Hong Kong can take its 2035 Clean Air Plan further
- Hong Kong can commit to the World Health Organization’s air quality standards by pledging to reach interim target three by 2035, and consider mandatory standards for indoor air quality
Air quality in Hong Kong has improved substantially, which is why it has not been a daily public complaint for some years.
The mid-1990s saw a dramatic deterioration in air quality because of insufficient local control, and also as pollution increased in neighbouring Guangdong as the mainland industrialised.
By last year, the local and regional air quality had improved through targeted control of local pollution sources by the Hong Kong government, and much better regional control too by the Guangdong authorities.
Since 2013, the mainland has made huge strides in air quality control. Cleaner air in Guangdong benefits Hong Kong. The pace at which the mainland is pushing air quality regulation alongside decarbonisation will only result in a cleaner and healthier region in the next 10-15 years.
