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(09 Oct 2024 SCMP)

The lack of a sense of crisis here compared to other parts of the world signals much more must be done to engage public support for change

Environmental advocates in South Korea and across Asia greeted the recent climate law decision by South Korea’s constitutional court with enthusiasm. The ruling declared that the nation’s measures to combat climate change fell short in safeguarding the rights of citizens, particularly the younger generation.

This landmark ruling, the first instance of climate litigation in Asia, has prompted reflection across the region.

So, is South Korea doing poorly against climate change? In 2020, it committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The passage of its Carbon Neutrality Act and the upgrade of its nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement to a 40 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 2018 levels, underscore its commitment.

Like South Korea, Hong Kong, with its Climate Action Plan 2050, shares the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by mid-century. But South Korea’s approach differs from Hong Kong’s, especially with its more robust Carbon Neutrality Act.

Despite such efforts, scepticism persists among South Koreans, especially the younger generation. They believe the current package of measures cannot adequately shield them from the impact of climate change.

Such introspection is food for thought; it invites us in Hong Kong to consider if our climate action plan is good enough to steer us away from climate risks.

In a survey published last year involving 1,705 Hong Kong adults, researchers found that only 58 per cent believed the impact of climate change would be significant in Hong Kong over the next five years. Surprisingly, only 40 per cent were moderately or very worried that they would be personally affected by climate change, with older respondents tending to perceive Hong Kong as not being affected. This contrasts sharply with the global perspective.

A survey by the UN Development Programme, also released last year, showed a resounding 89 per cent of respondents worldwide expressing a desire for more climate action from their governments. The difference in the attitudes of urgency between Hong Kong and elsewhere underscores the need for localised awareness campaigns and targeted climate education.

Interestingly, Hong Kong has made progress in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. From a peak of 41,000 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2016, emissions have gradually declined to 33,500 kilotonnes in 2022. But the city’s energy use statistics and waste monitoring reports show another side of the story.

Electricity generation remains the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in Hong Kong, accounting for more than 60 per cent of the total in recent years. Hong Kong’s electricity consumption has increased since 2016, when the Paris Agreement became effective, from 159 petajoules to 164 petajoules last year.

Another significant source of greenhouse gas emissions is the city’s waste. Hong Kong’s municipal solid waste per capita per day has risen from 1.41kg in 2016 to 1.51kg in 2022.

That greenhouse gas emissions have fallen despite increased electricity consumption can be attributed to a progressive replacement of coal with natural gas in the fuel mix by power companies since 2015. But while this transition is a positive step, relying solely on such low-hanging fruit is not enough for deep decarbonisation.

Achieving carbon neutrality requires a concerted effort, involving policy, business support and active citizen engagement. South Korea’s climate court case exemplifies heightened public awareness of climate change impact and a determination to combat it.

In Hong Kong, while strides have been made – such as the government’s climate action strategy and the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing’s plan to demand that listed companies disclose climate-related information under an environmental, social and corporate governance reporting framework – a critical gap remains.

The climate perceptions survey has revealed weaknesses in our climate action efforts in engaging the public. To bridge this divide, the government must intensify education initiatives, particularly in targeting reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in electricity use and waste generation. The Commissioner for Climate Change should allocate the necessary resources and team up with other departments to develop a more proactive strategy to build awareness and implement tangible steps for climate action.

South Korea’s experience has shown the power of bottom-up momentum from the public. Engaging citizens in a common goal is never easy, as Hong Kong has learned from trying to charge fees for waste disposal. The authorities need persistence and strategic communication to get this job done well.

South Korea’s top court has given the country’s National Assembly until the end of February next year to revise climate laws. A group of young people in Indonesia have filed a similar complaint with the National Human Rights Commission. Public demand for climate action can be a huge driving force and a smart government will build on and leverage that. 

Dr. Rico Wong Tze-kang, deputy director, The Green Earth

Source: What Hong Kong can learn from South Koreans’ push for climate action