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HKFP
11 hours ago
- Politics
- HKFP
Hong Kong urged to strengthen climate action after ‘historic' ruling by UN court
The Hong Kong government has been urged to strengthen its policies to tackle the climate crisis following a key advisory ruling by the United Nations' top court last week. During some seven months of deliberation, 15 judges at the International Court of Justice were tasked with considering the 'obligations of states in respect to climate change.' According to the landmark ruling, countries are legally bound to reduce their emissions, as well as compensate those affected by the climate crisis. It asserted that there was an 'urgent and existential threat' to humanity, with greenhouse gas emissions 'unequivocally' caused by human activity. 'The consequences of climate change are severe and far-reaching. They affect both natural ecosystems and human populations. These consequences underscore the urgent and existential threat posed by climate change,' Judge Yuji Iwasawa, the ICJ president, said on Wednesday. Litigants can now cite the advisory opinion in future climate-related litigation. Aim for 1.5°C target Greenpeace Hong Kong told HKFP on Thursday that 'Hong Kong as a responsible city, must also strengthen its policies to support the globe to achieve the more ambitious 1.5°C target in the coming update of the Climate Action Plan.' Launched in 2021, Climate Action Plan 2050 (CAP2050) lays out multiple decarbonisation strategies – such as net-zero electricity generation and green transport – with an aim to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. Net zero refers to achieving a balance between the production and removal of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere in order to slow the progression of global warming. The overarching goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement, adopted by 195 parties at the UN Climate Change Conference, is to limit the global temperature rise to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. In the long term, further efforts are required in the pursuit of a 1.5°C target. A spokesperson for Ark Eden, an eco-education centre on Lantau Island, called the climate change ruling a 'historic milestone,' particularly for biodiversity advocacy and for the potential impact on future environmental litigation in local courts. 'By affirming the legal right to a healthy environment, it places a binding obligation on all states to protect the natural world – a powerful reinforcement of every citizen's right to demand climate justice,' said the Ark Eden spokesperson. 'For species on the brink, this ruling could be a game-changer.' Public readiness Civic Exchange, a local public-policy think tank, said that Hong Kong has shown steady climate progress, such as through the city's CAP2025. Civic Exchange Executive Director Lawrence Iu told HKFP that, on a regional scale, the city made some of the most significant greenhouse gas emission reductions in Asia. 'Between 2014 and 2022, Hong Kong reduced its [greenhouse gas] emissions by 24%, with electricity-related emissions dropping by nearly 33%,' he wrote. Iu also said that, if the government were to become more ambitious in their climate policies and actions, Hongkongers should be 'prepared to shoulder some of the associated costs.' 'Ultimately, Hong Kong's ability to move faster will hinge not only on technical feasibility or government leadership, but also on public readiness to participate in and support the transition,' he added. Others, such as Paul G. Harris, professor of global environmental studies at the Education University of Hong Kong, welcomed the ICJ's ruling, but were more sceptical about how the crisis would be addressed locally. 'First, Hong Kong is not a state, so this ruling, at least for now, is going to be interpreted by [local] officials as not applying to Hong Kong,' he said. Despite having plans to slowly cut the city's greenhouse gas emissions, climate change is not an urgent priority for the government, Harris added. 'I don't think the ICJ ruling will do much, if anything, to cause the [Hong Kong] government to prioritise the climate crisis.'
South China Morning Post
19-07-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong must treasure the natural assets that help make it special
Hong Kong is well-known as a busy and bustling metropolis, with crowded streets, congested roads and tightly-packed skyscrapers. The city's amazing biodiversity, including many endangered species, is not widely appreciated. But flora and fauna is an integral part of what makes Hong Kong special. The city boasts more than 50 types of land-based mammal, over 130 dragonfly species, and 240 kinds of butterfly. There are 580 bird species, 1,000 types of marine fish and 3,300 species of vascular plants. It is imperative that these assets are preserved and able to flourish. Sadly, many are under threat. A two-month public consultation on the updating of Hong Kong's Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan concluded this month. The plan, required by an international convention, was introduced in 2016. The review is a chance to make biodiversity a top priority for all sectors, public and private, and instil a love of nature in the community. Four action areas are highlighted in the document: nature conservation, mainstreaming, capacity building and collaborative partnering. But the most important part is the 10 questions posed to the public at the end. These are broad and open-ended, essentially asking what Hong Kong's vision should be for nature conservation and how to realise it. The government should be very receptive to submissions that can take the strategy to a new level. Think-tank Civic Exchange, in a compelling submission, argues that nature should be integrated into decision-making across public and private sectors, with Hong Kong making an active contribution to the world's efforts to reverse biodiversity loss, becoming a regional leader in the field. It advocates the establishment of a central hub for 'nature-based solutions'.
