BEC Climate & Nature Theatre

Hong Kong’s Policy Landscape: Advancing Climate Action and Biodiversity for Sustainable Urban Development

11 Sep (Thur) Day 1 : 12:20 – 13:10

Full Programme
BEC Climate & Nature Theatre

Policy ambition is critical to driving action in addressing the interconnected environmental challenges we face today. In this session, we will discuss the current landscape of Hong Kong’s policy instruments and developments shaping Hong Kong’s ambition and action, such as the Climate Action Plan and Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. The city’s upcoming planned mega-developments, including the Northern Metropolis and others, present a golden opportunity for Hong Kong to rethink urban planning, showcase successful policy implementation and lead as a world-class testing ground for sustainable development. Panellists including policymakers and experts will discuss urban solutions that integrate the climate-nature nexus while delivering sustainable and economic development for Hong Kong.

Learnings:

  • Understand Hong Kong’s climate and nature policy landscape and the intersect of upcoming developments
  • Gain insights on how integrating nature into policy can be used for effective local climate adaptation and resilience
  • Share perspectives on current plans and future visions to showcase sustainable development for Hong Kong’s planned mega-developments

Post-event actions:

  • Encourage stakeholder collaboration and a holistic approach to policymaking on climate and nature
  • Understand how other stakeholders, such as the private sector, can be part of the conversation and drive sustainable action further

Speakers

Debra Tan

CWR

Director & Head

Tan heads CWR, a non-profit that aims to “mainstream” water & climate risks into financial decision-making & corporate strategies. She built CWR from an idea into a ‘go-to’ resource in the global climate water risk conversation. Today, CWR’s decade+ of work on assessing & valuing risk exposure to rising water scarcity & coastal threats is highlighted in TCFD’s Knowledge Hub, technical guides for disclosure (IFRS/CDSB, SBTN, CDP) and various textbooks on water risk modeling. Her research & reports unpacking water risks with financial institutions & government-related organisations in China are considered groundbreaking and instrumental in understanding not just China’s but future global water challenges. CWR was part of China’s Environmental Risk Analysis Task Force as well as a founding member of Hong Kong’s Green Finance Association. Tan’s work is widely cited from the IPCC and IGOs to the financial sector and mainstream media. As a recognized authority in the water & climate space, Tan is published by SpringerNature, Palgrave MacMillan, G20 & UN editions, China policy journals and was a contributing author to the latest IPCC report “Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability”. She also sat on various advisory committees for MNCs & IGOs including CDP, CDSB (now IFRS) as well as judging panels for ACI and UNPRI awards. Before water, Tan spent over a decade in finance. She spends her spare time exploring Himalayan glaciers.

My Sustainability Goals for 2025:

  1. Realistic recognition of accelerating climate risks
  2. HK as the regional leader in coastal adaptation
  3. HK as the regional thought leader in financing resilience

Speaking at:

Day 1

Advances in Climate Science: Fine-Scale Projection for Managing Extreme Risks in Asia’s Cities Hong Kong’s Policy Landscape: Advancing Climate Action and Biodiversity for Sustainable Urban Development

Simon Chan

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong SAR Government

Assistant Director (Conservation)

Mr. CHAN Kin Fung, Simon is an Assistant Director of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, overseeing nature conservation work in Hong Kong. He has been working in the Department for over 28 years and was involved in a wide range of nature conservation work, including wildlife management and protection, habitat management, biodiversity conservation, ecological surveys and environmental impact assessment etc. He led the formulation and implementation of Hong Kong’s first city-level Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan to step up biodiversity conservation and support sustainable development. He is now leading the work on updating the action plan and establishing a system of Wetland Conservation Parks under the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy.

My Sustainability Goals for 2025:

Enlisting broad-based support from the society to take forward key initiatives including establishment of Sham Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park and the next phase of Hong Kong Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.

Speaking at:

Day 1

Hong Kong’s Policy Landscape: Advancing Climate Action and Biodiversity for Sustainable Urban Development

Dr David Gallacher

AECOM

Executive Director, Environmental & Ecological Planning

Dr David Gallacher is an environmental specialist with AECOM, based primarily in Hong Kong, with experience across Shanghai, Delhi and Singapore. With an academic background in ecology and environmental management, he has contributed to hundreds of projects in 14 countries across the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia, partnering with government departments, private developers and multilateral banks. His expertise spans environmental planning, impact assessment and monitoring, nature-based solution design, sustainable urban planning, water-sensitive urban design and ESG reporting. David is currently the chairperson of the Hong Kong Institute of Environmental Impact Assessment and a member of the Hong Kong Institute of Qualified Environmental Professionals.

He has a particular interest in biodiversity design for urban environments and has contributed to award-winning projects such as the DaShaHe Urban River Restoration in Shenzhen and the Tung Chung Eco-shoreline in Hong Kong. David also gives lectures, seminars and training courses across Asia Pacific and contributes to AECOM publications on climate and restoration.

Speaking at:

Day 1

Hong Kong’s Policy Landscape: Advancing Climate Action and Biodiversity for Sustainable Urban Development

Michael Long

Hongkong Land Limited

Director and Head of Sustainability

Michael Long joined Hongkong Land as Director and Head of Sustainability in April 2025. He brings over 28 years of experience in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy and implementation across the real estate sectors in Asia, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Mr Long combines technical knowledge with a commercial, results-driven approach to help organisations address complex sustainability challenges. His philosophy centers on simplifying complexity, focusing on what truly matters, and always starting with the ‘Why’—creating impactful, meaningful outcomes for businesses and stakeholders alike.

Speaking at:

Day 1

Hong Kong’s Policy Landscape: Advancing Climate Action and Biodiversity for Sustainable Urban Development

Chung Pong Wong

Civil Engineering and Development Department

Deputy Project Manager (North)

I have joined the Hong Kong Government for nearly 30 years since my first engagement as a Civil Engineering Gradate. I have been working on some major government projects in the past like Route 9 project, widening of Tuen Mun Road, Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel, Tung Chung New Town Extension projects. I joined North Development Office of CEDD in 2023 mainly to take forward various Northern Metropolis projects, such as Kwu Tung North / Fanling North New Development Area, San Tin Technopole, New Territories North New Town Development projects.

Speaking at:

Day 1

Hong Kong’s Policy Landscape: Advancing Climate Action and Biodiversity for Sustainable Urban Development

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