Christine Loh

Opinion | Why Hong Kong needs all hands on deck to meet the climate change challenge

Hong Kong needs a whole-of-government approach in tackling climate change. Everyone in the public and private sectors has a role to play in meeting Hong Kong’s date with destiny to be carbon neutral

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Christine Loh

Published: 6:45am, 20 Aug 2021Updated: 6:45am, 20 Aug 2021

Turning any economy away from fossil fuels to one powered by clean energy requires long-term, sustained and aggressive policies. Decarbonisation must start with governments since only they hold the necessary policy tools to “internalise externalities” so businesses and the community have the right incentives and deterrents to favour zero-carbon options.

The national government will go all out to make the whole of the Chinese economy carbon-neutral by 2060. On the mainland, the whole governance apparatus must deliver on targets and timelines to decarbonise, as well as adopt the concept of “ecological civilisation”, the new constitutional development mandate.

Thus, there are environmental, ecological and biodiversity goals galore to meet throughout the chain of command.

Hong Kong also needs all government bureaus and departments to be involved. While the chief executive now chairs an internal steering committee on climate change – the chief secretary used to lead it – the entire ministerial team beyond the environment secretary, senior civil servants and regulators, as well as the disciplined services – including the police – must pitch in.

A few examples illustrate the need for a whole-of-government approach.

Decarbonisation around the world affects every economy. The government is keen for Hong Kong to become a strong green finance centre to raise capital for the mainland and Asia-Pacific.