Hong Kong's Governments Response

GHG Reduction Measures in Hong Kong (source EPD)

 

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Measures
a) Electricity Generation                        
  • Power companies are requested to maximize the use of natural gas for electricity generation.
  • Only gas-fired generating units are allowed to be built since 1997.
b) Electricity Demand Side Management
  • Demand Side Management (DSM) Agreements were signed between the Government and the power companies in May 2000 and expired in June 2003.
  • The Government has implemented a wide range of initiatives on energy efficiency and conservation to promote demand side management, including the voluntary energy efficiency labelling schemes, Building Energy Codes and pilot scheme on wider use of water-cooled air conditioning system.
c) Energy Efficiency and Conservation
  • Since 1998, an Energy Efficiency Registration Scheme for Buildings has been launched.
  • All new Government buildings and retrofit projects are required to fully comply with the Building Energy Codes issued by EMSD.
  • A voluntary Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme for household appliances, office equipment and vehicles has been launched since 1995.
  • Mandatory Implementation of the Building Energy Codes: On 28 December 2007, the Administration launched a three-month public consultation on a proposal to introduce mandatory implementation of the Building Energy Codes (BECs) for certain new and existing buildings, with a view to improving energy efficiency of buildings, alleviating global warming and combating air pollution. It is estimated that for new buildings, implementation of the proposed mandatory scheme will result in energy saving of 2.8 billion kWh in the first decade, which contributes to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 1.96 million tonnes.
  • Legislation for a mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme was introduced into the Legislative Council in April 2007. Room air conditioners, refrigerators and compact fluorescent lamps are being included in the initial phase of the mandatory scheme.
  • The Government has taken lead in maintaining the room temperature of air-conditioned government offices at 25.5 oC. Since 2005, the Government has been promoting all air cons to be adjusted to 25.5 o C.
  • Promoting a switch from air-cooled air-conditioning systems to water-cooled ones.
  • The Government has conducted energy audits and re-audits in over 200 major Government venues and set targets to cut down the electricity consumption of the Government by 6% between 2002/03 to 2006/07.
  • In the 2005/06 Policy Address, the Government has further pledged that all Government office buildings should achieve a 1.5% reduction in electricity consumption starting from January 2006.
  • “Hong Kong Energy Efficiency Awards” competition have been launched to encourage energy conservation.
d) Renewable Energy
  • A target of 1-2% of our local power to be met by renewable energies by 2012 was set in the First Sustainable Development Strategy in May 2005.
  • To encourage more usage of renewable energy (RE), the power companies in Hong Kong will enjoy a higher rate of return (11%) for their investment in RE facilities (as compared with 9.99% for other assets). They will also be offered a bonus in the range of 0.01 to 0.05 percentage point in permitted return depending on the extent of RE usage in their electricity generation. Also, grid connection arrangement will be standardised for back up power supply for customers with embedded renewable generation in Hong Kong, subject to technical and reasonable terms. Special cases, such as spill power from embedded renewables and energy-from-waste, will be considered on a case-by-case basis, on reasonable terms. Grid connection/access for RE users/generating facilities using RE will be negotiated between prospective grid users and the respective power company.
e) Transport
  • The Government will continue the efforts to extend the coverage of the public transport system.
  • Encouraging taxis and light buses to switch to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to reduce the generation of air pollutants.
  • Up to March 2007, about 100% and 56% of the taxi and public light bus fleets are using LPG.
  • Bio-diesel is a kind of renewable energy. It is estimated that about 128 000 motor vehicles (or 23% of the total number of licensed vehicles) are currently running on fossil diesel in Hong Kong. A wider use of bio-diesel in lieu of fossil diesel is therefore conducive to reducing GHG emissions. In order to promote the use of bio-diesel (which is more costly itself), the Administration has announced in the 2007 Policy Address that the current duty-free arrangement for use of bio-diesel as motor vehicle fuel will become a standing policy. To promote development of the bio-diesel market, the Administration will also draw up specifications on the use of bio-diesel in motor vehicles. They plan to amend the Air Pollution Control (Motor Vehicle Fuel) Regulation (Cap. 311L) to stipulate the relevant specifications with reference to the EU standards. They will begin consultation with relevant stakeholders shortly, including the major oil companies, bio-diesel suppliers, the Motor Traders Association of Hong Kong and transport trades, in preparation for the necessary legislative work. Their intention is to commence implementation of the new regulation in 2009.
f) Landfill Gas Utilization
  • Collecting and utilizing landfill gas from all closed and existing landfills as fuel substitutes and flare the surplus landfill gas.
  • Utilizing landfill gas extracted from the Shuen Wan Landfill as fuel at Towngas (Tai Po) Production Plant.
g)Afforestation
  • Actively implementing afforestation programmes in the territory to increase the capacity of CO absorption.
Others

  • Hong Kong Government Consultancy Study on Climate Change: With the recent release of the findings of major international studies on climate change, particularly those published by the IPCC, there is a need to conduct a comprehensive and up-to-date study to assess the likely impacts of climate change on Hong Kong. The study will review and update the inventories of GHG emissions; project the future trends in GHG emissions under different scenarios; characterise the impacts of climate change on Hong Kong; recommend additional policies and measures to reduce GHG emissions and facilitate adaptation to climate change and assess their cost-effectiveness

  • The Chief Executive accepted an invitation from Mr Ken Livingstone, former Mayor of London, for Hong Kong to join the C40 Large Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40). Formed in 2005, C40 aims to promote collaboration amongst cities in the world to reduce GHG emissions and enhance energy efficiency. London, Tokyo, New York, Sydney, Beijing and Shanghai are amongst the participating cities.
  • Alongside some other 20 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC), Hong Kong adopted the APEC Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development announced at the APEC Leaders’ Meeting held in Sydney in September 2007. The Declaration calls upon APEC economies to achieve a reduction in energy intensity of at least 25% by 2030 (with 2005 as the base year). Achieving this goal will avoid emission of approximately 20 million tonnes of GHG every year in 2030.
  • The Administration has established an Inter-departmental Working Group on Climate Change under the lead of Environmental Protection Department.
  • In January 2008, the Finance Committee of Legislative Council approved at its meeting on January 11, $1 billion injection to the Environment and Conservation Fund to boost support and participation of the community on environmental protection and nature conservation. The scope of programmes to be supported under the Fund will be expanded to broaden partnership with different sectors in the community, to enhance community's participation and to encourage cross boundary collaboration in environment and conservation matters.
  • LEGCO’s Finance Committee approved on January 11 2008 funding allocation of $93.06 million to EPD for launching a five-year Cleaner Production Partnership Programme. The Cleaner Production Partnership Programme, jointly organised by the Environmental Protection Department, Guangdong Economic and Trade Commission, Hong Kong Productivity Council and business and industrial sectors, was officially launched on 18 April 2008. This five-year programme will provide funding support to Hong Kong-owned factories in the Pearl River Delta region to engage environmental consultants to conduct on-site improvement assessment, which will propose practical solutions to achieve energy saving and emission reduction.

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