The Impacts of Climate Change in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta

The Impacts of Climate Change in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta Christine Loh (Civic Exchange)

1. Consider likely impacts on HK-Macao-Pearl River Delta: - higher temperatures - erratic rainfall, more intense storms - rising sea levels - ecological - infrastructure damage - public health

2. Public Health: Dengue Fever Temperature increase Increase of Epidemic potential 1°C 1.2% 2°C 2.6% 3°C 4.1%

Malaria Temperature increase Increase of Epidemic potential 1°C 6.7% 2°C 13.0% 3°C 18.7% Source: LAM Ka-se (Associate Professor, Civil & Structural Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, ICCC Presentation, 2007 May)

3. Local, national and international policy measures: - technology and innovation-CCS - market mechanisms, tax & emissions trading - energy supply and efficiency - adaptation - global & regional regimes

4. Kyoto Protocol (1997-2005) - regulates-6 GHGs. 2

- sets reduction targets – Annex 1 countries only 3

- provides 3 flexible mechanisms: a) Emissions Trading (ET)-Phase I 2005-2007; Phase II 2008-2012 b) Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)-2000 c) Joint Implementation (JI)-2008 - Hong Kong  No target - Beginning to work on national assessment

5. Technology and innovation: - public / private R & D spending - deployment assistance - global co-operation - key technologies: a) clean coal / CCS b) renewable energy (solar, wind, hydrogen) - Hong Kong’s plan?

6. Energy supply and efficiency: - renewable energy targets - mandatory standards / labelling - voluntary agreements with industry - public transport - Hong Kong - 25% APEC energy efficiency target - new schemes of control - 1-2% renewable energy target

7. Adaptation: - Lack of global / regional co-operation - Individual countries working on research / action plans - Hong Kong: some HKO research, no plan

8. Hong Kong Policy Challenges and Opportunities: - Energy supply and efficiency – SoC - Market mechanisms, tax and emissions trading - Transport—Land, air and sea + Airport and port operations - Industry, buildings and waste management - Join regional and global dialogues and regimes 4

- Restoration and adaptation

9. Climate change is a social, societal, environmental, economic, business, political and international relations issue… BUT Do Hong Kong people care?