The University of Hong Kong
The Centre of Urban Planning and
Environmental Management
Environmental Sustainability
Professor Peter Hills
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
Figure 2: Plot of Population Projections: 1971-2001
Hong Kong Population Projections: 1971-2001
10,000,000
9,000,000
7,000,000
Actual Population
1971-based Projections
6,000,000
1977-based Projections
1981-based Projections
1983-based Projections
5,000,000
1986-based Projections
1991-based Projections
1996-based Projections
4,000,000
1999-based Projections
2001-based Projections
2031
2031
2029
2027
2026
2025
2023
2021
2021
2019
2017
2016
2015
2013
2011
2011
2009
2007
2006
2005
2003
2001
2001
1999
1997
1996
1995
1993
1991
1991
1989
1987
1986
1985
1983
1981
1981
1979
1977
1976
1975
1971
1973
3,000,000
1971
Population
8,000,000
Sources: CSD, HKSAR, Hong Kong Population Projections (1971, 1978, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2000 & 2002).
CSD, HKSAR,(2002), "Compiling Population Estimates of Hong Kong," Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics, February 2002.
Notes: The figures from 1971 to 1995 are compiled based on the "extended de facto" method and those from 1996 onw ards are compiled based on the
"resident population" method.
Hong Kong Air Pollutants Emission Inventory: 1987-1999
600000
CO
Non-Methane VOC
SO2
500000
NOx
PM
Tonne
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
Source: EPD, HKSAR (2001); Internal Data, EPD, HKSAR (2002)
1997
1998
1999
Hong Kong Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 1990 - 2000
50000
Gg CO2-equivalent (1 Gg=1000 tonnes)
45000
40000
35000
30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
1990
1991
Carbon Dioxide
1992
M ethane
Source: EFB, HKSAR (2001)
1993
1994
Nitrous Oxide
1995
1996
Hydroflurocarbons
1997
Perflurocarbons
1998
1999
Sulphur hexaflouride
2000
Total
Hong Kong End-Use Energy Consumption per Dollar of GDP:
1989-2010
0.45
Total End-use Energy
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
Megajoule per Dollar of GDP
0.4
Source: Environment & Food Bureau, HKSAR (2001)
1,000,000
0.45
900,000
0.40
800,000
0.35
700,000
0.30
600,000
0.25
500,000
Projected
energy intensity
figures for
2001-2010
0.20
0.15
400,000
300,000
0.10
200,000
0.05
100,000
0.00
0
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Transport
GDP at Constant (1990) Market Prices (Million HK$)
Total Energy Intensity
Source: CSD, HKSAR (2001); EFB, HKSAR (2001); EMSD, HKSAR (1999)
GDP in Million HK$
0.50
19
84
19
85
19
86
19
87
19
88
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
Megajoule per DOllar of GDP at Constant (1990)
Market Prices
Hong Kong End-Use Energy Consumption and Intensity:1984-2010
Energy Intensity in Selected Asian Countries 1980-1999
Joule (x106) per US Dollar of GDP at 1990 Market Exchange Rates
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
Source: EIA, US Governm ent (2000)
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
Hong Kong
1990
1991
Japan
1992
1993
Korea, South
1994
1995
1996
Singapore
1997
Taiw an
1998
1999
Thailand
Municipal Solid Waste Generation
Solid Waste Generated 1989-2010
7000
Projection
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
Year
Source: EFB, HKSAR (2001)
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
0
1989
Quantity (x 1000 tonnes)
8000
Construction Waste Generation
Construction & Demolition Materials Generated (1989-2010)
16000
Projection
14000
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
Year
Source: EFB, HKSAR (2001)
2009
2007
2005
2003
2001
1999
1997
1995
1993
1991
0
1989
Quantity (x 1 000 tonnes)
18000
Water Consumption
1000
Water Consumption by Sector: 1986-2000
900
800
Million m3
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1986
1987
Domestic
1988
1989
Industries
1990
1991
1992
Service Trade
Source: WSD, HKSAR (2000 & 2001)
1993
1994
1995
Construction & Shipping
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
Annual Fresh Water Consumption
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
opinion leaders
knowledge/involvement
as
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 counterpositioned 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