Hong Kong to boost share of renewable energy sources, explore using hydrogen for power generation in bid to meet 2050 carbon neutrality target
City’s future fuel mix could see wind make up 3.5 to 4 per cent, while energy generated from planned waste incinerator could reach 3 to 4 per cent and solar power form 1 to 2 per cent
New climate change office to be set up as part of efforts to cut carbon emissions, but green groups call for more aggressive action and switch to electric vehicles
Hong Kong will increase the share of wind, waste-to-energy and solar power in its electricity generation sources as it moves towards a 2050 carbon neutrality target, the environment minister has said.
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The city will also explore importing hydrogen for use as a possible power generation source, while a commissioner for a new climate change office set up under the Environment Bureau will be the “focus point” in efforts to cut carbon emissions.
Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing announced these measures on Friday as he revealed the updated Climate Action Plan 2050.
“I would like to emphasise that decarbonisation must [not only] be done by the government, but also by the business sector and residents,” Wong said. “The government would like to be a leader to demonstrate our commitment to combating climate change.”
The city was battered by torrential downpours on Friday, prompting the Hong Kong Observatory to upgrade its rainstorm warning at 11.45am to black – the highest level and one that was last issued on June 28. The warning was downgraded to red an hour later and then lowered to amber at 5.45pm. One person died after scaffolding collapsed in Happy Valley.
Sandy Song, an assistant director at the Observatory, said it was only the third time the city had seen a black rain warning in October, adding that such extreme weather showed the urgency for decarbonisation.
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Local green groups remained unimpressed with the long-delayed update, saying it “could not catch up to climate change” and called for more aggressive action to raise the share of clean energy and switch to electric vehicles.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam outlined climate initiatives in her policy address on Wednesday. Photo: Sam Tsang
