Hong Kong greenhouse gas emission inventory for 2021 released

     The Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) released today (July 4) the 2021 greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventory for Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's total GHG emissions in 2021 amounted to 34.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e), representing an increase of about 4 per cent compared with 2020. This is largely attributable to the revival of domestic economic activities and electricity demand as the epidemic became relatively stable in 2021, as well as record-breaking high temperatures in March, May and September. The electricity generated in 2021 increased by about 4 per cent compared with 2020.

The total population decreased by about 1 per cent in 2021 compared with the 2020 figure. The per capita GHG emissions amounted to about 4.7 tonnes, which was about 5 per cent higher than that in 2020. When compared with the peak of about 6.1 tonnes in 2014, there was a reduction of about 23 per cent.

Carbon intensity is the measure of GHG emitted per Hong Kong Dollar of gross domestic product (GDP). The carbon intensity in 2021 was about 0.012 kilogram CO2-e per Hong Kong Dollar GDP, which was about 2 per cent lower than that in 2020. When compared with that of the 2005 base year, carbon intensity reduced by about 44 per cent.

Electricity generation continued to be the major source of emissions, amounting to 62.7 per cent of the total emissions. Other major emission sources were the transport sector (18.7 per cent) and waste management (8.4 per cent).

Preliminary data show that GHG emissions in 2022 would be lower than those in 2021, and on a par with the total emissions in 2020. The EEB will release the 2022 GHG emission inventory next year after completion of compilation and analysis of all relevant data.

Details of the 2021 GHG emission inventory can be found on the following website of the EEB: cnsd.gov.hk/en/climate-ready/ghg-emissions-and-trends.