David von Eiff

David von Eiff joined CFA Institute in 2021 as a sustainability specialist. David brings has a combined 13 years of experience in environmental compliance, research, and sustainability. He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy at the City University of Hong Kong and his Master of Science in Environmental Economics and Public Policy at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. His main research areas address the economic, sustainability and climate change issues associated with water supply management decisions. He previously spent 8 years regulatory specialist in Environmental, Health & Safety Management Systems, having clients across a wide range of industries to improve their environmental programs and identified methods by which they could make their operations more sustainable, including process redesign, water and energy conservation, and developing environmental management systems.

My Sustainability Goals for 2025
I would like to see Hong Kong accelerates the adoption of a diversified water supply mix to reduce reliance on imported water from the Dongjiang River, which currently accounts for about 70-80% of the city’s freshwater. Incorporating water reclamation and desalination in a “fit-for-purpose” approach could lower carbon emissions compared to heavy reliance on desalination alone. In 2025, I’d like to see policy commitments to expand water reclamation significantly and integrate advanced technologies like smart water grids to enhance resilience against climate-driven water scarcity in the Pearl River Delta.

Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050 sets a goal of carbon neutrality before 2050, with interim targets for 2035. In 2025, I hope to see accelerated investment in green infrastructure, such as a focus on retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency to cut emissions from electricity generation, which accounts for roughly two-thirds of the city’s carbon footprint.