Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has been soliciting public views for his fourth policy address while stressing the importance of boosting the economy, innovative development and people’s livelihoods.
The recent black rainstorms remind us of the urgency of building climate resilience against extreme weather. Lee must give high priority to sustainability in order to strengthen our resilience to financial, environmental and social risks – the three key pillars of sustainable development.
Extreme weather events are getting more intense and frequent worldwide. According to the World Meteorological Organisation, extreme weather caused US$4.3 trillion in economic losses and over two million deaths in 50 years.
To minimise economic and social risks, Lee should not treat environmental sustainability like a side dish; instead, it is the main course he needs to cook well for 7.5 million residents.
Simply relying on the city’s past appeal as a shopping and dining paradise won’t revive our economy. The authorities must work on the unique qualities of our city, and build upon them to enable a vibrant and sustainable future.
Country parks rich in vegetation could act as nature-based solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss.
Therefore, improving our country parks and relevant facilities would boost their function and value.
The advent of artificial intelligence has opened up numerous possibilities in various sectors, and the need for more data centres with significant energy demand is anticipated.
To address this, the Hong Kong authorities should mandate power usage effectiveness (PUE) targets for data centres.
The Beijing municipal government’s requirement that data centres reduce their PUE ratio to below 1.35 by 2027 is a good reference point.
Given that mega-events generate a huge amount of waste and carbon emissions, the authorities should set environmental preconditions for licences, thus fostering a green culture to protect the environment and enhance the city’s image.
Hong Kong is a co-host of the 15th National Games, and the authorities should integrate more environmental elements into local events to align with Guangdong’s commitments.
Among other measures, Guangzhou has pledged to supply 100 per cent green electricity to all venues and reception hotels.
This is a golden opportunity for the authorities to work together with their counterparts in Guangdong and Macau to make the National Games a green event we can be proud of.
Edwin Lau Che-feng, founder and executive director,
The Green Earth