Letters | Hong Kong should use smart tech to square megaprojects with green goals

The Hong Kong government plans to reduce carbon emissions by 26-36 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030. At the same time, a number of large-scale construction projects are being planned to drive the city’s economic recovery and increase the housing supply. Balancing environmental protection and development will be a challenge.

Denmark has been outstanding in this regard. The capital, Copenhagen, even has a waste incinerator with artificial ski slopes on its roof. The country’s increase in its renewable energy share since 2005 puts it among the top three in the European Union.

The key is to make the best use of local advantages. Denmark plans to use the immense wind resources of the North and Baltic seas to build the world’s first energy islands, which will be able to supply electricity to 5 million households.

Of course, a thorough environmental impact assessment is essential to evaluate the effect of such projects on human beings, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climate, landscape, material assets, cultural heritage, and the interaction between those elements.

For consultants working on wind power projects, the focus is on the visual and landscape impact of turbines. Their assessed impact will determine their final size and style. To improve communication, planners use a geographic information system (GIS) to convert data into digital maps with up to 30 layers, facilitating professional evaluation and public understanding.