Latest news with #ClimateActionPlan2050
HKFP
22-04-2025
- Business
- HKFP
21 restaurants fined for breaching Hong Kong disposable plastic regulation one year after ban
Hong Kong authorities have fined 21 restaurants for breaching the city's disposable plastic ban in the year since the policy came into effect. Under the first phase of the citywide plastic ban, which began in April last year, restaurants are prohibited from using styrofoam tableware, as well as most single-use plastic items such as utensils, stirrers, and plates. They had a six-month 'adaptation period,' which ended in October. Plastic cups and food containers are currently still allowed to be sold and used for takeaway but cannot be distributed for dine-in purposes. In a Facebook post published on Monday – a day before Earth Day – the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) said that it had received 122 reports of restaurants suspected of violating the ban between October, when the adaptation period ended, and mid-April. Most of the eateries complied after follow-up by the authorities, and only 21 restaurants were fined for still breaching the rule despite receiving a written warning, the bureau said. A business will be fined HK$2,000 if it fails to comply within 10 days after receiving a warning for violating the plastic ban. However, the EEB also highlighted some improvements. 'Relative to the over 26,000 eateries in Hong Kong, we can see that the sector has mostly gotten used to the new laws,' it wrote in the Chinese-language post. It added that an increasing number of customers have been getting into the habit of bringing their own reusable cutlery and that restaurants have also been using alternatives to plastic. 'The restaurant chains say that more than 80 percent of their customers no longer ask for takeaway cutlery, thereby preventing over 60 million sets of disposable cutlery from being dumped into landfills in Hong Kong,' the bureau also said. 'Low-carbon city' Under the second phase, the ban will be extended to more types of tableware including plastic cups, cup lids, food containers and food container covers, which are currently only banned for dine-in services but still allowed for takeaway customers. No timeline has yet been announced for the second phase and the Facebook post also did not mention when the new rules would kick in. But the bureau said it was preparing to collaborate with 'large-scale restaurant groups' to conduct tests in the middle of the year for plastic alternatives to identify substitutes that would 'affect citizens' lives the least.' The bureau hopes to promote a plastic-free culture and turn Hong Kong into a 'green, low-carbon city,' it added. According to Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050, which was released in 2021, the city aims to reduce carbon emissions by 50 per cent from the 2005 levels before 2035, and to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. Green groups, however, have criticised the plan, saying it does not have a mechanism for reporting the progress of meeting the objectives. The government should establish regular reporting and clear reduction targets for different sectors, they said.
South China Morning Post
04-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Carbon tax no longer an option for Hong Kong but a necessity
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Advertisement Hong Kong has set ambitious climate targets, aiming to cut emissions in half by 2035, compared to 2005 levels, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The Climate Action Plan 2050 outlines strategies in clean electricity, energy-efficient buildings, green transport and waste reduction. However, a key element is missing: a carbon tax . This policy is a powerful tool for pricing emissions and creating economic incentives for greener behaviour. Countries like Singapore, Japan and Sweden offer valuable lessons. Singapore introduced a carbon tax in 2019, starting at S$5 (US$3.75) per tonne of carbon dioxide. It rose to S$25 last year, and is expected to rise to S$50-S$80 by 2030. After Japan implemented a carbon tax in 2012, the country reduced emissions by around 20 per cent between 2013 to 2022. Sweden's carbon tax helped reduced emissions by 26 per cent from 1990 to 2017. During the period, its economy grew by 78 per cent, according to Clean Prosperity. This proves that carbon taxes can effectively reduce emissions without harming economic growth. For Hong Kong, a carbon tax could target high-emission sectors such as electricity, transport and waste. A phased roll-out like Singapore's would allow businesses time to adapt. Sectors exposed to trade could be exempt. Revenue could be reinvested in climate initiatives, subsidies for marginalised groups or tax reductions, providing both environmental and economic benefits. Advertisement Social equity is a concern as carbon taxes can have an impact on lower-income households. However, redistributing a portion of tax revenue through rebates or 'carbon dividends' could offset these costs. The International Monetary Fund suggests allocating 16 per cent of the revenue to the poorest 40 per cent of households would be sustainable. Small businesses could receive targeted support, similar to Singapore's approach.
Zawya
27-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Southa Unveils White Paper on Reducing Hong Kong Buildings' Energy Costs and Carbon Footprint
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 March 2025 - Southa Hong Kong (Southa), a joint venture of Veolia Hong Kong & Macau, has released a white paper that offers practical strategies for optimizing building energy management and significantly reducing Hong Kong's carbon footprint. With buildings responsible for 90% of the city's electricity consumption and 60% of its carbon emissions, this timely resource provides building owners and managers with actionable solutions to reduce energy costs by up to 30% while enhancing tenant comfort and extending the lifespan of equipment. "This white paper represents a significant milestone in Hong Kong's journey toward carbon neutrality," said Julien Watel, Executive Director at Southa Hong Kong. "With air conditioning systems being the primary energy consumers in buildings, our solutions offer practical pathways for building owners to contribute meaningfully to Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050 while achieving substantial cost savings." The Pressing Need for Building Energy Optimization With air conditioning systems being the primary energy consumers in buildings, inefficient operations pose both environmental and financial risks. Possible consequences include rising utility costs, early equipment failures, and dissatisfied tenants. However, growing awareness among the public and officials, along with Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050, is leading to a shift toward more sustainable and efficient practices. This white paper offers a vital roadmap, strategy, and solutions for navigating this transition through a comprehensive approach to energy management. Delivering Impactful Energy Efficiency Solutions Leveraging the combined expertise of Southa and Veolia, the paper explores: -Expert Consulting: Tailored guidance to identify and implement the most effective energy-saving measures. -Advanced Management Systems: Utilizing cutting-edge technology (HUBGRADE) to monitor energy consumption in real-time while guaranteeing the availability of the equipment and tenant's comfort. -Innovative Cooling Technologies: Implementing energy-efficient cooling solutions to minimize environmental impact and control utilities cost production -On-Site Optimization Techniques: Fine-tuning building systems for optimal performance and energy efficiency with a guarantee of energy savings. These strategies are designed to meet diverse client needs, budgets, and long-term sustainability goals while ensuring compliance with regulations like the Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance (BEEO). Download the white paper on Building Energy Management and unlock your building's full potential. Hashtag: #Veolia #Southa #BuildingEnergyPerformance #BuildingManagement #CarbonFootprint #AirCondition #EnergySaving #CostSaving The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Southa Hong Kong Southa, in a joint venture with Veolia, provides specialized building services focused on energy performance optimization. Leveraging Veolia's global expertise in optimized resource management and Southa's 40+ years of local E&M experience, Southa provides tailored, global building solutions including energy efficiency upgrades, decarbonization strategies, and digitized operations, maximizing equipment performance while maintaining tenant comfort. Southa's expertise extends to Operations & Maintenance (O&M), custom energy management solutions, and Building Management System (BMS) design, effectively addressing the substantial energy demands of buildings. ABOUT VEOLIA Veolia group aims to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with nearly 218,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for the management of water, waste and energy that are contributing to a radical turnaround of the current situation. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, to preserve available resources and to renew them. In 2023, the Veolia group provided 113 million inhabitants with drinking water and 103 million with sanitation, produced 42 million megawatt hours of energy and treated 63 million tonnes of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) achieved consolidated revenue of 45,351 million euros in 2023. Southa Hong Kong
Zawya
11-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
HKSTP Launches GreenTech Hub Solidifying Hong Kong as an International Leading Green Technology and Finance Hub
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 11 March 2025 - Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) today announced the strategic development of InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong as the leading green technology hub – "GreenTech Hub". This initiative brings together more than 200 green technology companies in the ecosystem to drive R&D and demonstrate sustainable solutions, signifying HKSTP's pivotal role in propelling Hong Kong as an international hub for green technology and green finance. Officiating at the opening ceremony of the GreenTech Hub was Mr Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). In line with the Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2050, which aims for carbon neutrality, the new GreenTech Hub will serve as a dynamic, collaborative platform that facilitates business opportunities, fosters the exchange of knowledge, bridges financing gaps to expedite green technology, and accelerates the commercialisation of R&D outcomes. Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP, said, "The establishment of the GreenTech Hub is a leap forward for Hong Kong in the global green technology arena. We believe real impact is achievable only through global collaboration. Our 16 GreenTech Hub Partners, which include financial and business institutions, universities, and institutions supporting business, form a powerhouse coalition against climate change." The number of greentech startups in Hong Kong has surged by an impressive 82% year-on-year in 2024, underscoring the immense potential of the sector in the city. HKSTP has been providing comprehensive end-to-end support to help greentech innovators grow and scale up by joining forces with influential stakeholders from the community. The new GreenTech Hub brings together 16 partners from leading financial and business institutions, industrial associations, and renowned universities. This collaboration facilitates business opportunities, fosters knowledge exchange and best practices, and bridges financing gaps to expedite green technology. Additionally, these universities offer talent training, testing and application scenarios for greentech solutions, further accelerating the commercialisation of R&D outcomes. The GreenTech Hub unites greentech companies to further drive growth and innovation across key technology sectors, including green fintech, green building, new energy, and smart city solutions. The hub also features a dedicated Green Space to showcase innovative greentech and sustainable solutions. The day's events also featured a panel sharing session, joined by GreenTech Hub Partners and leading industry leaders, on the future of green technology and its integration into mainstream sectors. HKSTP is set to continue strengthening Hong Kong's position as a global leader in GreenTech and Green Finance, propelling green technology innovation, driving decarbonisation efforts, and contributing to a sustainable future. Highlighted Greentech Innovations: Radiative Cooling Solution inspired by butterfly wings – Azure Era's radiative cooling film adopts cutting-edge technology, reflecting solar radiation to reduce indoor temperatures by 7 to 15 degrees Celsius without energy consumption for buildings, vehicles, and outdoor storing facility. Prominent clients and industry leaders include CATL and BYD. Creating Sterile Environments with 20kV – Apicem Technology Services (ATS) has developed a patented Baal Decontamination system that utilises a 20kV high-voltage electric field to eliminate bacteria and viruses, thereby purifying the air. TT GREEN: Facilitating Sustainability – InnoBlock's blockchain-powered platform delivers traceable sustainability management solutions, encompassing carbon credit trading, ESG management, and automated reporting. TT Green ensures transparent carbon footprint tracking, prevents double counting, and complies with 29 major global emission standards. Sulfur-Powered Revolution for Safer Electricity Storage – Luquos Energy has developed the world's first commercial sulfur-based flow battery energy storage system for renewable energy storage, uninterruptible power supply, smart microgrids, and EV solar chargers. The energy of this system is stored in water-based solutions of sulfur, which is intrinsically non-flammable, costing half as much as lithium-ion batteries. Fast and Safe Battery Swapping for E-Mobility – One Energy has developed intelligent battery swapping stations and management systems that enhances the usability of e-motorcycles and e-Tuk-tuks by drastically reducing charging time. The battery swapping station features the world's first water-cooled fast charging system, integrated with an automatic fire extinguishing system which brings safer battery charging. Transforming Tea Waste into a Greener Future - Zence Object converts tea waste into biodegradable materials called tea-board and tea-polymer. This sustainable innovation can replace plastic and timber, providing an eco-friendly solution for the #HKSTP The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation HKSTP
