The graph below shows the greenhouse gas emission levels from 1990-2008. Electricity generation is the most significant source of GHG emissions in Hong Kong, accounting for about 67% of total emissions in 2008. The transport sector is next accounting for about 18%. Waste disposal accounts for about 5% while other sectors such as industry and agriculture account for the rest.
source: EPD 2008
Hong Kong’s per capita level of CO2 emissions are now at 6.0 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per capita in 2008. In 1990 GHG emissions totalled 35,300 kilotonnes CO2-equivalent (CO2-e). By 2008 this had grown to 42,000 kilotonnes CO2-e.
Hong Kong's per capita emissions compare favorably to other developed economies due to our diverse fuel mix for electricity production, our excellent use of public transportation, and limited manufacturing activities. Hong Kong is a small emitter of GHG accounting for less than 0.2% of the world's total of direct emissions. Among HK's GHG emissions, about 85% of the total Global Warming Potential (GWP) weighted GHG emissions in Hong Kong were CO2, about 12% were methane (CH4), with the remainder 3% is from Nitrous oxide ( N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). However, these figures do not take into account the manufacturing and agricultural activities outside of Hong Kong that our economy depends on. Neither do they consider carbon emissions of international airlines and shipping.