Implementing Low Carbon Living in Hong Kong

City University of Hong Kong - Enabling Low Carbon Living in Shek Kip Mei

Brenda Fung World Green Organisation

17 April 2013

It’s the things we are most tired to that seem to be the worst for the environment.

Mobile phones, computers, electronic products, plastic, clothes …..

▪ Low carbon living could provide practical solutions to environmental issues.

▪ Low carbon living refers to a lifestyle that emits less carbon dioxide.

Low Carbon Living

▪ As all human consumption and some activities result in carbon dioxide emissions,

if we can commit to the low carbon living, reducing consumption and activities

will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

1. What is low carbon living?

2. Benefits of low carbon living

3. How to live low carbon living?

4. Challenge of moving to low carbon living in Hong Kong

5. Moving to low carbon living in Hong Kong

6. Roles of key stakeholders in low carbon living

7. The way forward

Presentation Overview

▪ Low carbon refers to a minimal output of greenhouse gas emissions into the biosphere, specially refers to the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

▪ Low carbon living is a way of life and it is also a kind of environmental responsibility of sustainable development.

▪ Come with a series of related words, such as low carbon life, low carbon economy, low-carbon footprint, low-carbon technology, low-carbon society, low carbon diet and so on.

▪ Low carbon living advocates low energy, low consumption and low expenses, thereby cutting CO2 emissions.

▪ In short, low carbon living is about making lifestyle choices that help reduce your personal carbon emissions and subsequently, your impact on climate change.

1. What is low carbon living?

2. Benefits of low carbon living ▪ A low-carbon living offers healthier, more natural and more secure life.

▪ Provide a low-cost way of life.

▪ Enhance people’s health from eating less meat and doing more

exercise - a fitter society

▪ Optimize the use of natural resources ▪ Create new industries and more green jobs ▪ Create a green and local economy – more investment in green and/or

local products and services ▪ Reduce the negative impact of climate change

▪ Preserve our planet for future generations

▪ & more….

▪ First, you should recognize this is not only a way of lifestyle but also an attitude, or even a philosophy – hopefully it becomes a future trend of lifestyle.

▪ Then, calculate your carbon footprint by using a carbon calculator.

▪ Gradually, you need to turn low carbon living to your habits.

▪ Actually, low-carbon way of life is simple - there are some tips for shrinking your carbon footprint

3. How to live low carbon living

3.1 Calculate your carbon footprint

Everyone has a carbon footprint - use a carbon calculator to find out how much CO2 you use!

At home At work Driving Commuting Education Entertainment Shopping & Consumption Holiday Flying etc…

3.2 Carbon Calculators in HK In Hong Kong, carbon calculator tools have been developed by a wide variety of bodies including non-government organisations, commercial companies, government agencies, and universities to estimate the greenhouse gas emissions generated by various activities.

▪ One Tonne Challenge Calculator

▪ Carbon Calculator for Hong Kong and its free mobile phone application at WWF's

Climateer website

▪ ICAO Carbon Emissions Calculator for air travel at International Civil Aviation

Organization

▪ Calculation Tools for companies to develop inventories of their greenhouse gas

emissions at The Greenhouse Gas Protocol Initiative

▪ Carbon Calculator at CLP Power Hong Kong Ltd

▪ Carbon Calculator established by The Hongkong Electric Co. Ltd

▪ Carbon Calculator of Hong Kong And China Gas Company Limited (Chinese Only)

▪ SME carbon audit toolkit designed by The University of Hong Kong

▪ CGCC-Carbon Management Tool developed by The Chinese General Chamber of

Commerce

▪ Web-based carbon management tool, “Carbon Manager” by the Council for

Sustainable Development * Data extracted from EDP

3.3 Ideas for shrinking your carbon footprint

1. Change Your Light Bulbs 2. Plant Trees 3. Buy Energy Efficient Appliances 4. Conserve Energy 5. Use Water Efficiently (also hot water)

6. Buy Clean Energy 7. Drive Less—Drive Smart 8. Eat Green 9. Reduce Waste—Support Recycling 10. Offset Your Emissions

4. Challenge of moving to low carbon living in HK ▪ Hong Kong has the 2nd highest carbon footprint per capita in the world.

▪ The local authority has not taken the lead and is not taking full

responsibility to reduce carbon emissions.

▪ Local businesses and individuals have been slow to act.

▪ Lack of pilot projects and low public awareness of the potential means the opportunity could be missed.

▪ Two major contributors of carbon emissions in Hong Kong are power

generation and the transport sector.

▪ According to the WWF’s data, one’s carbon footprint grows with age; as for occupation, those in the marketing, advertising and public relations industries have the highest carbon footprint.

▪ Hong Kong’s heavy reliance on imported goods and natural resources

▪ Hong Kong has shifted its dietary pattern over decades – today consuming

more seafood and meat.

▪ To implement low carbon living in Hong Kong, there is a need for a long term comprehensive strategic plan and appropriate policies and a series of complex, diverse, detailed action plans which resolve specific but integrated issues – however, it is not a usual practice for government, which is more piecemeal approach.

4. Challenge of moving to low carbon living in HK

▪ Have a clear vision for low carbon living

▪ Set the policy direction for low carbon living

▪ Provide related infrastructures to enable behavioral change – at both macro and micro levels

▪ Create low carbon economic opportunities and strength business confidence in exploring those opportunities.

▪ Create multi-stakeholder dialogue through community and

stakeholder engagement

▪ Raise awareness, break habits and sustain individual behavior change

5. Moving to low carbon living in HK

5.1 Low carbon infrastructure – macro level: walkable & cyclable community

5.1 Low carbon infrastructure – macro level: better use of harbour-front

5.1 Low carbon infrastructure – micro level: green building

5.2 Low carbon products & services

6. Roles of key stakeholders in low carbon living ▪ Low carbon lifestyles are enabled by both efficient infrastructures and

individual actions or choices to minimize the use of natural resources, emissions, waste and pollution while also supporting socio-economic development and better quality of life for all.

▪ Participation of key stakeholders is critical to long-term success.

。 Government

。 Business Sector

。 NGOs & Community Groups

▪ Have a leading role to play in promoting the low carbon living, set good examples in low carbon living and encourage the businesses and individuals to participate.

▪ Develop a holistic and integrated plan, involving policies and strategies on implementing low carbon living in HK.

▪ Ensure proper co-ordination and communications between the relevant government bureaus/departments and agencies concerning low carbon living and also have a shared understanding of the vision, objectives and targets.

▪ Foster stronger partnership with other stakeholders, including green professionals of different disciplines, non-governmental organisations and the public to take forward future initiatives for achieving a low carbon living.

6.1 Role of government in low carbon living

▪ Provide financial assistance, technical assistance and other incentives to support the low-carbon related activities or initiatives, e.g. encouraging investment in green industries and developing new opportunities for local communities.

▪ Develop partnerships, initiatives and tools targeted at the business sector in order to promote innovation, investment and marketing for low carbon lifestyles and consumption, as a core component of corporate social and environment responsibility policies, professional practices and business plans.

▪ Assist local communities in developing low carbon lifestyles initiatives and projects, and involve businesses, local authorities, stakeholders and citizens.

▪ Identify the current and potentially low carbon living practices in Hong Kong.

6.1 Role of government in low carbon living

▪ Incorporate more green and sustainable elements in the planning process – to create walkable & bikeable communities.

▪ Review and update the Hong Kong Planning Standards &. Guidelines (HKPSG) on the establishment of low carbon city.

▪ Provide efficient public transport system to discourage the use of private cars.

▪ Promote and educate the public on low carbon lifestyles.

6.1 Role of government in low carbon living

6.2 Role of business sector ▪ Develop low carbon products and services

▪ Invest more resources on creation of low carbon product and

technology development ▪ Integrate low carbon living practices in their operations and

management choices.

▪ Encourage low carbon lifestyles and work styles among staff

▪ Establish low carbon procurement while also encouraging and working with business partners to achieve de-carbonisation throughout the value chain.

▪ Engage and involve communities to promote low carbon living

6.3 Role of NGOs & Community Groups ▪ Help raise awareness and provide education - necessary conditions for

low carbon lifestyles

▪ Assist in the development and implementation of formal education for low carbon lifestyles policies and strategies, in close cooperation with the government, schools, and universities.

▪ Provide train to general public and business sector in low carbon lifestyles and consumption

▪ Conduct research to support low carbon lifestyles innovation and policies

▪ Develop assessment approaches, methodologies and indicators to measure environmental, social and economic impacts of lifestyle schemes and choices, including alternative, sustainable and low-carbon lifestyles.

▪ Promote the benefits and ideas of low carbon living through a verity of publications and pubic activities and events.

▪ Bring together a range of key stakeholders such as governments, businessmen, educators, youth, and media to develop ways in which they can reduce carbon footprint.

7. The way forward ▪ A low carbon which is a well-being approach to economic

development should become the norm for Hong Kong.

▪ Hong Kong should set priorities for implementing low carbon living in the short term, medium term and long term goals.

▪ Having policy encourage design processes that better meet the needs of individuals and communities - designing for people and designing with people

▪ The government should consider requiring all planning applications to

submit a carbon budget.

▪ The government should consider offering incentives for private developments which go beyond minimum requirements.

▪ Hong Kong people need to know more about their energy consumption pattern.

Thank you!