bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Reporter

But reducing them in line with the Kyoto Protocol will hit economic growth

Hong Kong's greenhouse gas emissions will rise 35 per cent above the 1990 level in seven years, a recently released study says.

But if strong measures are taken to reduce the increase, this could have an impact on economic growth and push up electricity prices, it found.

The greenhouse gas emission control study, commissioned by the Environmental Protection Department, forecasts that emissions will reach 52 million tonnes by 2010 because of an increasing population and economic activities.

The level of emissions in 1990 was 39 million tonnes and in 2001 it was more than 40 million tonnes.

Completed in late 2000 and released last month, the study was the first of its kind to project Hong Kong's contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions.

It found the power sector, particularly electricity-generating plants, were the main source of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane.

The study also identified options Hong Kong could adopt to cut emissions. These include the use of more environmentally friendly vehicle fuel, and wider use of natural gas and renewable energy.

The release of the study follows news that the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty combating global warming,  will be applied to Hong Kong. The city's obligations will be the same as those of the mainland, which has signed up as a developing country.

Under the protocol, only developed nation signatories are legally bound to meet specific targets and cut greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2008 to 2012.

The Hong Kong study found that a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent might lead to a drop in gross domestic product growth of 0.2 per cent and electricity price rises from  1.34 cents per kilowatt/hour in 1997 to 1.91 cents by 2012.

If more drastic measures such as an emission cap are introduced, GDP growth will be further lowered while the electricity tariff increase will surge from 1.91 cents to 14.54 cents in the same period.

The study also proposes that a greenhouse gas emission control policy should be formulated.

It does not take into account greenhouse gas emissions in the Pearl River Delta, but suggests greater co-operation with the mainland in emission inventory building, co-ordinated planning and policy formulation.

A spokesman for the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau said it regarded the forecast as the best prediction despite changing economic circumstances. 'We will step up our ongoing efforts in promoting renewable energy and cleaner fuels for power generation and transport,' he said.

A CLP Power spokeswoman said it had constantly upgraded its generating facilities to cut emissions.



Gas emissions will be 35pc above 1990 level, study finds