Liveable Cities & Transportation Theatre

Powering Hong Kong’s Green Skies: Infrastructure for a Sustainable Aviation Hub

12 Sep (Fri) Day 2 : 12:20 – 13:10

Full Programme
Liveable Cities & Transportation Theatre

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (“SAF”) is at the heart of the decarbonisation efforts of the hard-to-abate aviation sector. This session will explore the critical infrastructure needed to support the widespread adoption of SAF and position Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) as a leading regional and global SAF hub. Drawing insights from the recently released Policy Whitepaper on SAF Strategy for Hong Kong, the session will explore the challenges and opportunities for building SAF infrastructure.
Key topics include the feasibility of local SAF blending facilities, opportunity that SAF infrastructure can bring to Hong Kong, and the role of cross-sector collaboration in overcoming hurdles. Through expert perspectives and actionable recommendations, this session aims to provide insights for fostering resilient SAF infrastructure—paving the way for Hong Kong’s aviation sector to meet global decarbonisation targets.

Learnings

  • Understand the current state of SAF infrastructure at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and its capacity to handle pre-blended SAF.
  • Explore the challenges and opportunities in developing local SAF blending facilities and strengthening supply chain resilience.
  • Learn about recommendations from the Policy Whitepaper on SAF Strategy for Hong Kong, including proposed feasibility studies and policy measures.
  • Gain insights into the role of Government policies, financial incentives, and cross-sector collaboration in de-risking investments for SAF infrastructure.
  • Discover practical strategies for integrating SAF into existing airport fueling systems and scaling its adoption.

Post-event Actions

  • Advocate for and support feasibility studies into local SAF blending facilities.
  • Engage with Government bodies, industry stakeholders, and financial institutions to promote policies and incentives that lower SAF adoption barriers.
  • Foster collaborations between airlines, fuel suppliers, airport operators, and investors to build robust SAF supply chains.
  • Prioritise investments in SAF infrastructure development as part of corporate sustainability and decarbonisation strategies.
  • Educate organisational teams about SAF benefits and advocate for greater uptake within the aviation ecosystem.

Speakers

Merlin Lao

Business Environment Council

Head – Policy and Research

Mr. Merlin Lao is the Head – Policy & Research at Building Environment Council Limited (BEC). He is leading a team to share clear policy positions on pressing climate and environmental topics in Hong Kong, through research on latest domestic and international trends, engaging with the Hong Kong SAR Government and connecting insights of the local business sector. He is keen on net-zero transition that not only looks at decarbonisation, but also a more equal and liveable built environment.

Mr. Lao is a programme management professional with 15 years of climate change and environment career experience across private, public and non-profit sectors in East Asia, with major exposure in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and South Korea. Prior to joining BEC, he was the senior programme manager at an international non-governmental organisation driving sustainable cities agenda in China, Japan, Mongolia and South Korea, covering topics of air quality, low-emission development, urban resilience, circular economy and nature-based solutions. He also led the environmental protection planning at the Macao Environmental Protection Bureau and worked in a technical consultancy dedicated in carbon accounting and management in his earlier career.

My Sustainability Goal for 2025:

Hoping to see deeper work for various business sectors to look into decarbonisation roadmaps, in connection with abatement curves, economic transition and opportunities.

Speaking at:

Day 2

Powering Hong Kong’s Green Skies: Infrastructure for a Sustainable Aviation Hub

Pierre-Yves Buysschaert

Lufthansa Group

General Manager Hong Kong, South China and Macao

As General Manager for Hong Kong, South China and Macau at Lufthansa Group since January 2025, Pierre-Yves Buysschaert is responsible for the commercial operations across Asia’s most vibrant and competitive aviation markets. With a particular focus on sustainable growth, he leads business development, revenue optimization, and cross-cultural team leadership in this dynamic region.

Pierre-Yves is driving Lufthansa Group’s commercial development by strengthening partnerships with corporate clients, travel agencies, and local stakeholders. One of his main objectives is supporting the further development of sustainable travel initiatives that align with the region’s evolving environmental priorities.

Our Sustainability Goals for 2025

– To promote and support positive environmental change by enhancing our communication to passengers, corporates and travel partners about sustainable aviation practices.

– Encourage the travel community to adopt more ecofriendly travel habits through the different possibilities which are available and by sharing their sustainability efforts.

– Working with local communities to build awareness about responsible travel, ensuring we create a sustainable future that future generations will embrace.

Speaking at:

Day 2

Powering Hong Kong’s Green Skies: Infrastructure for a Sustainable Aviation Hub

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