Wedoany.com Report-Mar 24, Hong Kong’s first waste-to-energy incineration facility is set to commence service at the end of this year, Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan announced Monday at the Hong Kong Climate Forum.

The facility is part of the city’s broader strategy to combat climate change and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Tse warned that Hong Kong, as a coastal city, is highly vulnerable to extreme weather like tropical cyclones and rising sea levels.

Citing World Meteorological Organization data, he noted that 2024 is the warmest year on record, with extreme weather threatening communities and ecosystems.

“Achieving carbon neutrality is a daunting challenge, but it is the only option,” Tse said, urging the public to embrace green transformation.

He highlighted Hong Kong’s progress in reducing carbon emissions, which have dropped by about 25 percent since peaking in 2014. The government aims to cut emissions by half by 2035 and reach net zero by 2050.

To meet these goals, the administration plans to increase zero-carbon electricity to 60 to 70 percent by 2035.

Measures include promoting energy-efficient building designs, expanding electric vehicle charging networks, and boosting recycling efforts.

Tse also emphasized hydrogen as a promising green energy source, with a new task force and strategy to support its development.

Former World Health Organization director-general Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun warned that climate change is also a public health crisis.

She noted infectious diseases like HIV, Ebola, and SARS are re-emerging due to disrupted ecosystems.

Climate change also worsens mosquito-borne diseases, chronic illnesses, and mental health issues, especially in low-resource countries, she added.

Chan called for better tools to assess climate impacts on health, food, and housing, suggesting artificial intelligence could help address data gaps in developing nations.

The climate and health crisis is a matter of social transformation and choice,” she said, citing China’s success in reducing air pollution.

“After China declared air pollution its biggest enemy, Beijing now enjoys clear skies.”