Transcript of opening remarks by SEN at press conference on Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2030+ in 2017 Policy Address
Transcript of opening remarks by SEN at press conference on Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2030+ in 2017 Policy Address
Following is the transcript of opening remarks by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, at the press conference on Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2030+ in the 2017 Policy Address today (January 20):
The Paris Agreement came into force in November last year. The Steering Committee on Climate Change chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration led ministerial-level meetings within the administration. The Steering Committee also took into account the views of stakeholders. The Chief Executive accepted the Steering Committee's recommendations.
The Government has set a target to reduce our carbon intensity by 65-70 per cent by 2030 compared with the 2005 level. This is equivalent to an absolute reduction of 26 to 36 per cent and a per capita emission of 3.3 to 3.8 tonnes in 2030. We also anticipated Hong Kong's carbon emission will peak before 2020.
To achieve the new target, we will phase down coal-fired electricity generation, i.e. replace the majority of the coal-fired generation units by cleaner energy sources by 2030. Our major actions also include adopting renewable energy on a wider and larger scale, making our infrastructure and buildings (both new and existing buildings in the public and private sectors) more energy efficient, improving public transport, promoting walking as a mobility means, "cooling" the city through better green environment and landscaping design, strengthening the climate-readiness of the city as a whole, and partnering with stakeholders and the general public so that our community can be more climate-resilient in the long-term.
We will enhance publicity to raise public awareness of the importance of combating climate change and work with various sectors and the general public to pave the way for low carbon living.
Be climate ready. Don't be a Big Waster. Thank you.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, January 20, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:09
NNNN