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The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, today (June 7) attended the second China-US Climate-Smart/Low-Carbon Cities Summit in Beijing to explore, together with representatives of various cities in the Mainland and the United States, measures to address climate change and build low carbon cities.
In the afternoon, Mr Wong delivered a keynote speech at a breakout session, in which he introduced the latest developments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in addressing climate change. He noted that the Hong Kong Climate Change Report 2015, which was launched in November 2015, outlines the work of the Government in responding to climate change, and provides an account of Hong Kong's climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience actions, thereby laying the foundation for further measures. Mr Wong added that as climate change will affect everybody in the community, the Government has set up the Steering Committee on Climate Change, chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, to steer and co-ordinate the relevant work of different departments, with a view to mapping out long-term climate strategies and actions.
Regarding carbon emissions, Mr Wong said that the Government set the target of reducing Hong Kong's carbon intensity by 50-60 per cent by 2020 with 2005 as the base year. With the adoption of the Paris Agreement in December 2015, he said the Government is reviewing its long-term carbon reduction target and strategy with an aim to announce the carbon reduction target for 2030 towards the end of this year.
Mr Wong attended another breakout session in the morning, during which he learnt about the experience of other participating cities in building low carbon cities.
He will also attend a dinner arranged by the organiser.
Mr Wong will conclude his visit and return to Hong Kong tomorrow morning (June 8).
Ends/Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:33
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