The successful conclusion of COP23 suggests that most of the world is walking the talk in climate action. The “Fiji Momentum for Implementation” was agreed by nearly 200 countries at the 23rd Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – known as COP23 – held in November in Bonn, Germany. This latest agreement is intended to help the world become more ambitious in implementing climate actions.
It follows the landmark adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015 and the broad agreements made by 196 nations at COP22 in 2016. And Hong Kong is playing its role in continuing to adopt new measures.
“The HKSAR Government is committed to climate actions with concrete plans and targets to achieve by 2030,” said KS Wong, Secretary for the Environment, at a Chamber roundtable lunch held on 27 November.
Dr Jeanne Ng, CLP Group’s Sustainability Director, attended COP23 and she told members that the conference was a technical COP. For example, she said a compliance mechanism committee was launched on the Talanoa Dialogue, which will help nations to communicate how they achieve their targets.
Participating countries also came up with measures to support developing countries, including an annual US$100 billion fund to help them conform to the terms of the Paris Agreement.
Ng believes that climate adaptation has become increasingly important to the world. She noted that the focus of discussion among nations has evolved and deepened, and now included topics ranging from “carbon capture and storage to offset, environmental issues to social challenges and opportunities.”
To fulfill the global commitments on climate change, the Hong Kong Government has formed a high level Steering Committee on Climate Change. It also launched the Climate Action Plan 2030+ in January last year with a new emission reduction target.
“The Government will continue to take the leading role in decarbonization,” said Wong. “We aim to reduce the electricity consumption of Government buildings by 5% in five years, and initiate a HK$2 billion project on renewable energy integration in Government premises to decarbonize our infrastructure.”
The United States was still on track to meet and even exceed its Paris commitment despite its controversial withdrawal from the agreement. But as the U.S. steps back from participation in the climate change battle, the Chinese Mainland was seen to be stepping up.
The Mainland has introduced a number of nationally determined contributions to meet its 2030 targets. These include increasing the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 20%, and lowering carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 60% to 65% from the 2005 level.
Wong added that Hong Kong had to be more progressive than other Chinese cities in climate actions. There are significant benefits for businesses and individuals in transitioning to a low carbon economy, he said.
The Government, business and community should work together, with a view to achieving the transition towards a low carbon future in an efficient, competent and comprehensive way.
COP24 will take place in Poland from 3-14 December 2018.