HONG KONG’S CLIMATE CHANGE
STRATEGY AND ACTION AGENDA
Lucia Miotti 270164
Città e cambiamenti climatici: misure , politiche, strumenti
prof: Francesco Musco
a.a. 2011-2012
PRESENTATION ORGANISATION:
A_ HONG KONG DATA
B_ HOW DID THE PLAN COME INTO LIFE?
C_ PLAN CONTENTS
C1_ OUR VISION
C2_ ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
C3_ GHG EMISSIONS IN HONG KONG
C4_ JOINING HANDS TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE
C5_ HONG KONG CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY AND
ACTION AGENDA
C5.1_ GHG REDUCTION MEASURES
Maximising energy effi ciency
Greening road transport
Promoting use of clean fuels for motor vehicles
Turning waste to energy
Revamping fuel mix for electricity generation
Hong Kong’s target on reducing GHG emissions
C5.2_ ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Key Vulnerable Areas of Hong Kong
Adaptation Options and Measures
D_ CONCLUSIONS
E_ BIBLIOGRAPHY
A_ HONG KONG DATA
LOCATION: Special Administrative Region of the
People’s Republic of China, Asia
TOTAL AREA: 1.104 km²
WATER: 4,6%
TOTAL POPULATION: about 7 milion inhabitants
DENSITY’: 6390 ab/Km2
CLIMATE: humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and
mild winters; they usually start sunny, becoming cloudier towards February.
Hong Kong averages 1,948 hours of sunshine per year, while the highest and lowest ever recorded temperatures at the Hong Kong Observatory are 36.1 °C (97.0 °F) and 0.0 °C (32.0 °F), respectively.
http://en.wikipedia.org
B_ HOW DID THE PLAN COME INTO LIFE?
completed in 2009;
released on 10th September 2010 a three months consultation
HONG KONG’S CLIpaper “Join hands for a Low Carbon Future”
MATE CHANGE AND
prepared by Government, Environmental Protection Department
ACTION AGENDA
CONSULTANCY TOOL FOR CITIZENS:
The document deals with the proposal of consultancy study made by “Enviromental
Protection Department” in 2008. Contents of the study:
- to update local inventories of GHG emissions;
- to assess impact of climate change in Hong Kong;
- to recommend long-term strategies and measures to reduce GHG emissions
OBJECTIVE 2020: reduce carbon intensity by
50-60% compared with 2005
MAIN STRATEGY: HONG
KONG LOW CARBON CITY
- E efficiency
- use of clean fuels
- relying less on fossil fuels
- reduce energy
consumption
- low pollution
C_ PLAN CONTENTS
C1
OUR VISION
- promoting a low carbon living
- tapping the potential of developing a low carbon economy
- positioning Hong Kong, in the context of the PRD, as the greenest region of China.
PRD= Pearl River Delta
COMMUNITY-WIDE ACTION
is necessary!!
Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong
Kong, Huizhou, Dongguan,
Foshan, Jiangmen, Zhongshan,
Zhuhai, Macau
LOW CARBON LIVING= change in value and culture
action from every member of the community Efforts in order
to adjust lifestyle
LOW CARBON ECONOMY= green technology and products
energy efficient and green consumer products
new green business
opportunities
LOW CARBON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT=
Building a Green Pearl River Delta Quality Living Area
Regional Collaboration in Climate Change Issue
PRD: one of the
main hubs of China’s
economic growth
C2
ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
2008 global atmospheric concentrations
of CO2=
385 parts per million
IPCC confirmed that GHG emissions
are raising!!
GHG- absorption+emissions of
radiation; atmosphere+ Earth’s
surface
- raise global T, altering climate cycle
MAIN CAUSE= human activities_ use of fossil fuels
_ change in land use
- melting of glaciers
GLOBAL IMPACTS= rises in global average T
- climate change
most noticeable impact= extreme weather conditions
but LONGER TERM RISKS= food security
reilience of ecosystems
sustainability of human development
GLOBAL WARMING SIGNALS=
- IPCC= from 1906 to 2005_ +0,74 °C
- Average Artic Temperatures: 2 times higher than global average rate
- Average oceans T increased
- decrease of snow and ice extent
- increase in sea level
- MORE FREQUENT: hot extremes
heat waves
EFFECTS
heavy precipitation events
- FLOODING AND DROUGHTS
- OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
- PERMANENT/IRREVERSIBLE LOSS OF
NUMEROUS HABITAT
- IMPACTS ON SPECIES
IMPACTS ON HONG KONG:
Hong Kong Observatory_ systematic observations of climatic variables
C3
every human activity:
CARBON
FOOTPRINT!!
GHG EMISSIONS IN HONG KONG
UN set guidelines to calculate footprint of nations and economies
PAST TRENDS:
Hong Kong 1990-2008: from 33.3 to 43.4 (1993) million tonnes of CO2
per capita_ from 5 to 7.4 tonnes (1993)= FOOTPRINT
carbon intensity_ from 0,025 to 0,048 (1992)
PRESENT SITUATION (2008):
42 million tonnes of CO2-e (global= 49 billion tonnes)
6 tonnes per capita (global= 7.7 tonnes per capita)
0,15 carbon intensity (world average= 0,48)
0,1% global emissions
MAIN
FACTORS
67% electricity generation (90% of it for buildings)
18% transport
5% waste treatment
4% industrial processes and agricolture
GHG emissions in H.K.= highly concentrated
also COMPACT CITY LAYOUT= 25% of built area
- already efficient publis transportation system
- low car ownership
- high commuting trip rates
- already expanded railway
FUTURE PROJECTIONS:
pay attention to increase GHG emissions due to increase development
BUSINESS-AS-USUAL-SCENARIO
in 2020: 46 million tonnes
C4
JOINING HANDS TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE
CLIMATE CHANGE is a GLOBAL PHENOMENON_ INTERNATIONAL ACTION
RESPONSIBILITIES=
common but
differentiated
A_KYOTO PROTOCOL= International Agreement linked to United Nations framework on Climate Change (1994)
INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRIES_ stabilize GHG emissions
REMAINING COUNTRIES_ step up actions to control GHG emissions
+ adapt to the climate change impacts.
- adopted 1997
PROTOCOL - entered into force 2005
- 188 Parties
CHINA
2009
- Party to Convention and Protocol, but not Annex1-Party (from 2003)
OBLIGATIONS:
1_ sharing information on GHG emissions, national policies and best practice
2_ launching national strategies to address GHG emission, and adapt to impacts
3_ cooperating in preparing for adaptation
China announced a VOLUNTARY NATIONAL TARGET:
_diminuish CO2 by 40-45% by 2020 (compared with 2005)!!
strategies:
1_ intensifying effort to conserve energy+ improve E efficiency
2_ developing RE and nuclear energy
3_increasing forest coverage
4_ develop low-carbon economy
B_APEC ( Asian Pacific Economic Co-operation) TARGET: 21 members:
- APEC’s Leaders Declaration on Climate Change
- Energy Security and Clean Development
C_CITIES THEMSELVES: initatives to contribute to reduction of GHG
reduce energy intensity at least of 25%
by 2030
emissions. They have 70% of World’s CO2 emissions.
HONG
KONG
- member of APEC
- member of C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group=
partnership of large cities committed to reducing carbon emissions with concrete actions.
working together to
share ideas and experiences
C5
made by Consultants
HK C.C. STRATEGY AND ACTION AGENDA
C5.1_ GHG REDUCTION MEASURES
PROACTIVE MITIGATION STRATEGY= combine LOW CARBON +
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS
HONG
KONG
- SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
- RESILIENCE
- VISION
-relatively small global GHG emissions_ REDUCE MORE CARBON
FOOTPRINT
-highly advanced economy_ ACTIONS IN THIS DIRECTION
- international city_ ACT WITH INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
TARGET ENERGY SECTOR (electricity)+
BEHAVIOURAL CHANGES IN EVERYDAY LIFE:
- avoid food wastage
- recycling
- supporting greening
- conserving water
MITIGATION
STRATEGY
1
1_ Maximising energy efficiency
2_ Greening road transport
3_ Promoting use of clean fuels for motor vehicles
4_ Turning waste into energy
5_ Reorganizing fuel mix for electricity generation
Maximising E
efficiency
- Already in recent years_ SLOW RATE of E. consumption
thanks to ENERGY EFFICIENCY
- 2005-2009: +3,6% local electricity consumption
+13% GDP
AGENDA:
1_ Building Energy Code (comparison with year 2005)
by 2020_ all new commercial buildings: +50% efficient (their electrical equipment)
2_ Expand use of district cooling or water-cooled air conditioning
by 2020_ 20% of new commercial buildings: +50% better in refrigeration performances
3_Reduce energy demand by various means:
- reducing E consumption of buildings’ envelope (OTTV standards)
- wider adoption of green roofing
by 2020_ all new commercial buildings: -50% demand
4_ Improve energy efficiency
- good housekeeping
- IT products
- intelligent building environmental management system (= devices to control and avoid E
waste)
by 2020_ 25% of new commercial buildings: +15% efficient
5_ Efficient electrical appliance for domestic use
by 2020_ all appliances sold in market_ +25% E efficient
6_ more efficient lighting systems progressively restricting sale of incandescent light bulbs,
2
Greening Road
Transport
- Transport sector (especially road): 18% of GHG
(less than London, Tokyo, New York)
- Already: wide use of mass transportation system
low car ownership rate
AGENDA:
1_ Continue to invest in MASS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
2_ Increase access to public transportation
3_ Pedestrian areas and covered pathways to decrease transport needs
4_ Advanced technology: a) wider use of vehicles with alternative fuels such that 30% of private
cars, 15% of buses and goods vehicles are hybrid and EVs or other vehicles with similar performance by 2020;
b) new vehicles +20% efficient (2005)
5_ Need of community-wide support
6_ Introduce EVs in HK and expand their charging network
3
Clean fuels for
- Almost all motor vehicles in HK_ FOSSIL FUELS: 16% of GHG
motor vehicles
AGENDA:
1_ By 2020: reduce reliance on fossil fuels
2_ Mix petrol and diesel with 10% of ethanol and biodiesel.
BIODIESEL= renewable energy; CO2 emmited during combustion absorbed via
photosynthesis by plants
Waste cooking oils_to produce biodiesel locally
3_ By 2020: adequate supply of biodiesel, thanks to UE support
4
- Treatment of waste: 5% of GHG
- When organic material decay at the landfills_ METHANE
Turning
waste into E
AGENDA:
1_ Use waste for POWER GENERATION
2_ Better use of LANDFILL GAS as energy source
3_ WASTE-TO-ENERGY FACILITIES
3a_ One integrated waste management facility (IWMF)
Adopt advanced inceneration with energy recovery
3000 tonnes of waste= daily treatment capacity
supply= 480
million KWh/year to the grid (= 100 000 households)
= - 440000 tonnes/year GHG emissions
Advanced technologies to reduce pollutant emissions from incineration
3b_ Two organic waste management facility (OWMF)
400-500 tonnes of organic waste= daily treatment capacity
biogas generated= used for power generation
supply= 28
=
million KWh/year to the grid (= 6000 households)
- 50000 tonnes/year GHG emissions
3c_ One sludge treatment facility (to be kept)
5
Fuel mix for
electricity
generation
- Electricity: 67% of GHG
- HK need to import energy as fuel
- 2009: coal, natural gas, nuclear electricity
AGENDA:
1_ Retire coal-fired power plant, TO BE REPLACED
Coal= highest carbon emission factor
primary source of air pollution
from 1997: not allowed to build new coal-tired powerplant
2_ Revamp fuel mix is IMMINENT because it takes long time; it is necessary to reduce local GHG emissions
3_ ENERGY POLICY OBJECTIVE:
Economic Development with Clean, Low Carbon E sources:
- reliable, safe and efficient energy supplies at reasonable prices
- minimise environmental impacts
3a_ Natural gas: -50% GHG emissions than coal_ INCREASE SUPPLY!!
by 2020: 40% of HK fuel mix
AVAILABILITY and PRICE considered
3b_ Renewable
energy (solar, hydropower, wind, but also biomass)
incentives from government to the two local power companies_ higher rate of return
for their investment in RE facilities (11%)
3c_ Nuclear
Power
Renewable
by 2020: 3-4% of fuel mix
energy
WIND ENERGY_ significant growth worldwide
- both power companies in HK_ offshore windfarm projects
- 100 wind turbines in the waters of HK= 560 million KWh
- cost:8-10 million $
- by 2020: 1-2% of total demand
SOLAR ENERGY_
- HK= abundant sunshine
- Government= solar technologies in government projects: a PVC system of 350 KWh on
the roof of EMD Headquarters+ solar water heating installations
- power companies_ for ex. HEC: a PVC system of 550 KW= electricity for 150 domestic
households every year.
WASTE TO ENERGY_
- By 2020: 2% of total demand
Nuclear
Already 23% of fuel mix
power
- from 1990: nuclear electricity is part of HK fuel mix
- investments in nuclear power plants in Guandong; strenghten cooperation with Guandong
for mutual supply of electricity and security power supply to HK
- import more nuclear energy to combat climate change:
more balanced fuel mix
minimise impact of international shortage of gas supply
considered as an EFFECTIVE MITIGATION OPTION, comparable with RE
PROPOSED FUEL MIX FOR POWER GENERATION (2020)
- keep coal-fired power plants as reserve
coal= no more than 10% of fuel mix
- maximise use of natural gas_ more than 40% in the fuel mix
- increase share of non-fossil low carbon fuels
RE= 3/4%
NUCLEAR POWER= 50%
With this MITIGATION STRATEGY:
from 42 million tonnes to 28-34 million tonnes
per capita: from 6.2 to 3,6-4,5 tonnes GHG emissions
This TARGET=
- competitive also internationally (better than USA, EU and Japan)
- technically feasible
- in line with existing policies, it also requires new legislation
- additional benefits:
1_ HK as international city+highly advanced economy
2_ INVESTMENT in E Efficiency will reduce operating costs at enterprises
3- CLEANER ENVIRONMENT
4_ opportunities in GREEN and E Efficiency TECHNOLOGIES
- instrumental in building consensus
- decisions will be defined with STAKEHOLDERS (power companies, professional bodies, community)
C5
effects of C.C.=
INEVITABLE
NOT UNIFORM
HK C.C. STRATEGY AND ACTION AGENDA
C5.2_ ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
KEY STRATEGY= identify VULNERABLE AREAS,
to enhance RESILIENCE
VULNERABLE AREAS:
FIRST
1_ Biodiversity and nature conservation
ASSESSMENT 2_ Built environment and infrastructure
by Consultants 3_ Business and Industry
4_ E supply
5_ Financial Services
each sector=
6_ Food resources
different risks
7_ Human Health
8_ Water Resources
ENVIRONMENT AND
CONSERVATION
FUND_ support
1_ increase in demand for electricity from air-conditioning and refrigeraPOTENTIAL tion due to the increase of T
IMPACTS
2_ flooding, landslides, wind damage, storm surge, lighting strike
3_ sustainability of water supply_ changing rainfall
1_ reduce exposure
ADAPTATION 2_ bulding intrinsic adaptive capacity by raising public awareness and
education
BY IPCC
5 CATEGORIES
OF ADAPTION
1_ MONITORING
2_ INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING AND CAPACITY BUILDING: broader sectoral initiatives
3_ DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND EMERGENCY
PLANNING to be ready in case of climate related events
4_ RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATION; still uncertainty about sea level rise, change in marine environment and
extreme weather events
5_ EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS, climate
change will have impacts on socio-economic and people’s
livelihood and ecosystem
ADAPTATION
STRATEGIES
ADAPTATION
STRATEGIES
C_ CONCLUSIONS
STRENGTHS
1_ HK’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Agenda is a tool specificly prepared for citizens.
There are questions opening each chapter, asking approvals and suggestions. Its organisation fits
with the clear intent to be easily understood from everyone. Everyone feels directly engaged.
2_ HK has made this agenda including itself into bigger agreements in order to be competitive
internationally: Protocol of Kyoto, the China National Target, APEC Target and C40 Cities
Climate Leadership Group.
3_ Il deals with not only mitigation strategies but also adaptation measures.
4_ Efficient waste management
WEAKNESSES
1_ It doesn’t apply the target in an urban plan or some tematic masterplan (public transport masterplan, bicycle masterplan, etc.)
2_ In some cases this study compares Hong Kong with other nations in order to underline its
better positions in terms of GHG emissions, carbon intensity, etc. It would be better if compared with other city rather than nations.
3_ It doesn’t explain which kinds of funds will be used; it doesn’t talk about how incentives and
tax system could help in the mitigation process.
4_ It’s often said that a community-wide participation is needed, but it’s not specified how to
raise it, how to help people change their lifesyle.
5_ Carbon Intensity is mainly related to industrial emissions and “HK is a “developed economy
with little industry, so the use of carbon intensity targets is not appropriate to measure emissions
reduction. Emission intensity can decline even though total GHG emissions can rise.”(1)
If we compare lower (-50%) and upper (-60%) limit of carbon intensity with GHG emissions
reduction decided by IPCC we see that in the first case we have a reduction of 3,6%, in the second one of 20,65. In both cases it’s not sufficient.
6_ It proposes to increase up to 50% nuclear energy to generate electricity. It shows that nuclear
energy is the most convenient source in terms of affordability and GHG emission level. It’s not
true that it is less expensive beacuse “the government has not considered extra costs such as insurance and liability, waste disposal, maintenance of reactors.” (1)
It says the supply of uranium will last for centuries, this is not true. If the consumption remain
the same it would fall into shortage within 100 years. It is also controlled by an oligopoly.
In addition it doesn’t talk about security. Considering that this document is a tool for citizens it
should comprehend the international dibate on the issue. In this case, the pollution it produces
is not GHG emissions, but nuclear waste. Plutonium is one of the most highly radioactive elements. Also Greenpeace “strongly urges the government to immediately abandon all plans to
expand the region’s nuclear energy sector”.
7_ It shows a serious lack of commitment to develop the RE energy sector. It is even more wired
since China now “has the biggest capacity in RE (226 GW in total, that means it could sobstitute
200 coal fire power plants). The government’s Electrical and Mechanical Services Department
said that “wind power and solar power could contribute up to 21%of HK’s total annual needs.”
(1)
8_ The HK’s Climate Change and Action Agenda and the associated consultation paper were
drawn up on the study “ A study of Climate Change in Hong Kong- Feasibility Study”, this
should be “released to the public in order to know what assumption, data and analysis went into
agenda.”(1)
(1) “Greenpeace Response to Hong Kong’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Agenda: Policy Suggestions for
a Genuine Low-Carbon Hong Kong”
E_ BIBLIOGRAPHY
- “Hong Kong’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Agenda” PDF Document
- “CC Executive Summary” PDF Document
- “Climate Change Leaflet” PDF Document
- “CC Final Report Eng” PDF Document
- “Key Consultation Points” Word Document
downloaded fron the website: http://www.epd.gov.hk
- “Greenpeace Response to Hong Kong’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Agenda: Policy
Suggestions for a Genuine Low-Carbon Hong Kong”
downloaded fron the website: “http://www.greenpeace.org”
- http://en.wikipedia.org
Further Lectures:
- Stefano Caserini, “A qualcuno piace caldo. Errori e leggende sul clima che cambia”, Milano
2008, Edizioni Ambiente.
- Stephen M. Wheeler, “State and Municipal Climate Change Plans: The first generation” PDF
Document