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Conclusion
Climate change is both a local, regional and national issue. Cross-boundary sharing of knowledge and solutions will help and I anticipate there will be more such dialogue going forward.
Extreme heat as a result of climate change is a growing concern in Hong Kong. Both the government and private sector have been taking active steps to mitigate the adverse impact brought about by rising temperatures. However, there are limitations to these efforts. In view of the anticipated surge in economic activity in the region as a result of the GBA initiative, cooperation between governments and different stakeholders is crucial to ensure the environment is not compromised by economic development. The building sector remains one of the largest sources of emissions in Hong Kong, and although RCx and green buildings are gaining gradual acceptance, more can still be done. In light of Hong Kong’s obligations under the Paris Agreement, more has to be done in order to achieve the common goal of limiting temperature rise. In this regard, cooperation between parties in the private sector, civil society, financial institutions, cities and regions are to be encouraged.
− Raymond Tam, then Secretary of Constitution and Mainland Affairs (2015) 46
Meanwhile, Hong Kong must continue strengthening resilience towards extreme weather events including severe heat, which are increasing in frequency and intensity. Many cities including Singapore, Melaka, Chennai and Jakarta have a chief resilience officer. Some commentators and lawmakers have suggested that Hong Kong may consider creating a similar official post to coordinate efforts across the public and private sectors in order to better respond to climate-related disastrous events. 47
46 This quote was given in the Hong Kong Climate Change Report 2015 published by the Environment Bureau. The report is available at http://www.enb.gov.hk/sites/default/files/pdf/ClimateChangeEng.pdf. 47 https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2166380/typhoons-and-other-major- incidents-hong-kong-needs
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