Environmental Sustainability Professor Peter Hills The University of Hong Kong The Centre of Urban Planning and Environmental Management

Issues What have we achieved so far? Do we understand sustainable development? Issues that we have to tackle

Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development in Hong Kong Improvements in environmental quality while maintaining economic growth Problems remain Waste disposal is a critical problem Transition from an exclusively local focus to a regional PRDR focus (air and water) Implication is that problems cannot be dealt with by purely local policy and action

Hong Kong Population Projections:

Hong Kong Air Pollutants Emission Inventory: Source: EPD, HKSAR (2001); Internal Data, EPD, HKSAR (2002)

Hong Kong Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Source: EFB, HKSAR (2001)

Source: Environment & Food Bureau, HKSAR (2001) Hong Kong End-Use Energy Consumption per Dollar of GDP:

Source: CSD, HKSAR (2001); EFB, HKSAR (2001); EMSD, HKSAR (1999) Projected energy intensity figures for Hong Kong End-Use Energy Consumption and Intensity:

Energy Intensity in Selected Asian Countries

Municipal Solid Waste Generation Solid Waste Generated Source: EFB, HKSAR (2001)

Construction Waste Generation Construction & Demolition Materials Generated ( ) Source: EFB, HKSAR (2001)

Water Consumption Source: WSD, HKSAR (2000 & 2001)

Talking about Sustainable Development 1992 Earth Summit 1993 Review of the 1989 White Paper 1996 Review SUSDEV21 study (Planning Department) 1999 Policy Address Sustainable Development Unit (2001) and Council for Sustainable Development (2003)

Hong Kong 2030 is “adhering to the principle of sustainable development” This “requires that we balance social, economic and environmental needs so that a vibrant economy, social progress and better environmental quality can be achieved simultaneously. In this connection, we will inter alia, apply the evaluation tool, i.e., the CASET, developed in the SUSDEV21 Study in the strategy formulation process in order to obtain as far as possible an optimum balance between the three factors for the recommended strategies.”

Council for Sustainable Development Strategy Sub-committee Vision Statement: “Our vision is for Hong Kong to be a healthy, economically vibrant and just society that respects the natural environment and values its cultural heritage. By engaging the community in the process of building a strategy for sustainable development, we aim to ensure that Hong Kong will be a city for all to share and enjoy, for this and future generations”

Results of stakeholder survey Self-completion questionnaire with 15 representatives of 8 different stakeholder groups – 120 responses Academics, business, environmental NGOs, other NGOs, civil servants, Legco/DC members, media, and environmental professionals Selected for their knowledge/involvement as opinion leaders

Debate on Sustainable Development Sustainable development not seen as policy priority Level of understanding low except among environmental NGOs and international business community Local business community lags behind Lack of SD strategy, lack of policy integration and changing agendas are problems Economic growth and environment still counter- positioned in Hong Kong Debate on SD in HK is not well-informed Progress towards a more sustainable HK – government is far more optimistic than other stakeholders Academics and environmental NGOs least optimistic