HONG KONG SHOULD CAPITALISE ON ITS ROLE AS A LEADING EXAMPLE IN DECARBONISATION By Jasper Hilkhuijsen, Senior East Asia Sustainable Development Manager; Senior East Asia Innovation Manager, Arup The recent pre-COP28 ‘Race to Transition’ Asia event series has made it clear: Hong Kong is well positioned to lead in decarbonisation, yet significant work remains ahead. Hong Kong boasts many enviable advantages, including its strong financial sector, widespread applications of advanced technology, high-quality infrastructure, and a supportive policy environment. However, the city also faces many challenges in decarbonising its economy and society, such as a lack of public awareness, limited land and natural resources, and a dependence on imported energy and materials. The following insights are largely drawn from the Hong Kong session of the series, which featured panel discussions on “Driving collective climate action across Asia” and “Scaling corporate transition towards a sustainable future”.
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A quest for guidance The global stocktake at COP28 revealed insufficient progress towards the climate goals set by the Paris Agreement, This necessitates adjustments to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to get back on track. The Asia Pacific region, known for its rapid economic growth, is a major emitter accounting for half of the world’s carbon emissions. While multiple governments across the region have formulated climate action plans, they often lack the means and expertise to implement and, as mentioned, the plans might need to be revised to set more ambitious targets. A quest for best practices and leadership can soon be anticipated, which will open an opportunity for Hong Kong to showcase itself as a regional, if not global, _________
