Hong Kong’s Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan delivers his opening speech at the C40 Climate Action Seminar (Asian and Oceania Regions) at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong, Oct 27, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

HONG KONG – The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group brought together representatives from 15 cities in Asian and Oceania regions as it held a climate action seminar in Hong Kong on Friday to share their climate action plans.

Speaking at the seminar, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan stressed the need to achieve emissions neutrality and highlighted the decarbonization potential of hydrogen fuel.

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“While the three years of the pandemic have made in-person exchange with our fellow C40 cities representatives much more challenging, such difficult times have not impeded our quest for carbon neutrality,” he said. 

As announced in Policy Address, we will publish the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong in the first half of 2024 to support the exploration of hydrogen application in different fields.

Tse Chin-wan, Secretary for Environment and Ecology, HKSAR

Hong Kong’s Environment and Ecology Bureau organized the seminar at the AsiaWorld-Expo.

Tse pointed out that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government promulgated the city’s Climate Action Plan 2050 that would lead Hong Kong towards the goal of carbon neutrality before 2050.

Hong Kong's climate strategies embrace all the key components of climate action planning advocated by the C40 – emissions neutrality, resilience to climate hazards, inclusivity and benefits, as well as governance and collaboration.

“As announced in Policy Address, we will publish the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong in the first half of 2024 to support the exploration of hydrogen application in different fields,” he said referring to the 2023 Policy Address delivered by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Wednesday.

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These include electricity generation and storage, construction equipment and machineries and transport, which offers an exciting opportunity to demonstrate the role of hydrogen in driving a low-carbon transition, Tse added.

The C40 Climate Action Seminar (Asian and Oceania Regions) was held today (October 27) at the AsiaWorld-Expo. Photo shows the Acting Commissioner for Climate Change of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, Mr Wong Chuen-fai, speaking at the seminar. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai, Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti; Lead Climate Mitigation Advisor of Auckland Council, Adrien Bouzonville; Consultant for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, Hridbijoy Chakraborty; Deputy Director of the Development and Reform Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, Li Baozhao; Deputy Director of the Beijing Climate Change Management Center, Yu Fengju; President of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Dr Barry Lee; and Head (Market Development) of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Georgina Lok also spoke at the event.

Over 140 participants from 15 cities attend the C40 Climate Action Seminar (Asian and Oceania Regions) at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong, Oct 27, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

Established in 2005, C40 is a global network of mayors committed to connecting cities around the world to take urgent action to confront the climate crisis. Hong Kong became a C40 member city in 2007.

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The secretary for environment and ecology is a member of its steering committee that represents the Central East Asia region, including 13 Chinese cities.