SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Departure turns up heat on authorities

Doubts have been cast over official commitment to fighting global warming following critical comments by a leading adviser on Hong Kong’s strategy

Reading Time:2 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

It cannot be denied that Hong Kong has to make every effort to deal with a problem that will have far-reaching consequences for all Photo: Roy Issa

SCMP Editorial

Published: 9:30pm, 16 Oct 2020Updated: 9:30pm, 16 Oct 2020

Perceptions are important when it comes to Hong Kong’s efforts to tackle climate change. The resignation of respected meteorologist and environmental activist Lam Chiu-ying as convenor of a group helping the government formulate a long-term carbon reduction strategy casts doubt on the commitment of authorities.

Among his criticisms were a lack of transparency, lengthy delays, not taking seriously the advice of experts and a failure to follow Beijing’s lead in committing to a target date for achieving net zero emissions. Justified or not, it cannot be denied that the city has to make every effort to deal with a problem that will have far-reaching consequences for all.

A curb has to be put on rising temperatures to prevent global changes in climate that will affect human health, food production, water availability and wildlife. China, the world’s biggest emitter of pollutants, has taken a leading role and President Xi Jinping stepped up efforts last month by committing the nation to being carbon neutral by 2060. Measures to attain such a goal will feature in the next five-year plan. But even though Hong Kong has little industry and can more easily reach such a target, it has failed to announce a date or specific actions.

Lam, a former director of the Hong Kong Observatory, is especially critical of the lack of feedback received about the group’s main task, organising a public consultation exercise last June to gauge opinions on how to cut emissions and provide policy recommendations. It would have helped the government formulate a blueprint for a long-term strategy, but the results, originally scheduled for release last year, have still to be announced and the lack of a response was bound to disappoint someone so aware of, and dedicated to, environmental issues. His resignation sends a message that Hong Kong is not doing enough to help prevent global temperatures from rising by more than 2 degrees Celsius.

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted government operations. Authorities contend there will be no impact on their carbon-cutting strategy. But if efforts are to be meaningful, they have to be forthcoming about what they are doing, timely in making decisions and coordinating efforts with the mainland.