Annex 1.pdf

Annex 1

1.1  Have you already got guidance in place concerning the encouragement of low-
carbon lifestyles?
On Environmental Protection Department website there are just two short points referring
to consuming fruit and vegetable. I am referring to this webpage:
https://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/how_help/living_style/living.html

The Government has been actively implementing various means to enhance the
understanding of the community on climate change and raise public awareness of the
potential impacts of climate change so as to encourage community involvement to spur
behaviour change and practise low-carbon lifestyles.
1.2
How was this message promoted? Is there any research made by the government about the

level of consumption of plant-based products?

The Environment Bureau (ENB) and the Environmental Protection Department (EPD)
have been disseminating the message through promotional leaflets, television and radio
broadcasts, video clips, posters, the EPD website (i.e.,
https://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/how_help/living_style/living.html) and the Climate
Ready website (www.climateready.gov.hk).  The ENB also launched the Low Carbon
Living Calculator (LCLC) in 2018 to encourage members of the public to assess their
individual carbon emissions.

In the past five financial years, the Environment and Conversation Fund (ECF) allocated a
total of $25 million to support non-profit-making organisations to undertake public
education activities and demonstration projects on climate change.  As of December 2020,
23 projects have been approved under the specific theme on climate change of ECF’s
Environmental Education and Community Action Projects Funding Scheme.  These
projects can raise the awareness of the community, particularly the students, about climate
change through activities such as seminars, workshops, video production, environmental
education dramas and training camps.

1.3
What information does the government have about the correlation between plant-

based diet and benefits for the environment if more people choose such diet?

We have no information on this aspect.
1.4
Are there any metrics to asses the impact of this webpage on Chinese society? How

effective this website is in terms of promoting plant-based diet and it’s impact on
environment?

We have no information on this aspect.

2.1
Is encouraging a plant-based lifestyle by showing its environmental benefits something

that you would consider?

Tips for encouraging low-carbon lifestyle have been provided at the ClimateReady
website ( https://www.climateready.gov.hk/low_carbon_tips.php) as well as the Low
Carbon Living Calculator website
( https://www.carboncalculator.gov.hk/en/resourcesCentre). In 2020, EPD launched the
radio programme “Climate Watcher Low Carbon Tips” on RTHK.

2.2
Are the information shared on Environment Bureau’s website

https://www.energysaving.gov.hk/en/home/index.html effective?

The "Energy Saving for All" website (www.energysaving.gov.hk) is a useful platform
which facilitates public's access to information, such as guidelines and tips, databases,
resources on technologies and strategies, in relation to energy efficiency and conservation,
and has been serving as an effective means of promotion and public education. Details of
events, competitions, charters and schemes are disseminated and timely updated to
encourage active participation of the general public in energy saving.
2.3
Is the society well-informed about the impact of meat-based diet on environment and

the impact of plant-based diet on environment?

You may refer to the following links regarding ENB and EPD’s work in promoting low
carbon lifestyle and combating climate change.

1.  Transforming Hong Kong into a low carbon economy:
https://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/sites/default/files/epd/tc_chi/25_anniversary/activitie
s/files/Green_Living.pdf

2.  Hong Kong Climate Change Report 2015:
https://www.enb.gov.hk/sites/default/files/pdf/ClimateChangeEng.pdf

3.  ENB launches Low Carbon Living Calculator:
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201804/20/P2018042000385.htm

3.1
What information about the energy consumption of meat manufacturing does the governm

ent have?

We have no information on this aspect.
3.2
Does the government analyze the correlation between plant-based diet and the difference

in the impact made on the environment on the basis of carbon
calculator? https://www.carboncalculator.gov.hk/en

The Low Carbon Living Calculator helps users assess their carbon emissions in a number
of aspects, including food consumption, in the past year.
3.3  What is the department’s position on view on plant-based meat products?

While ENB and EPD have been encouraging community involvement to spur behaviour
change and practise low-carbon lifestyles, we are not in a position to comment on a
specific type of food products.

3.4  Does the government have any plans regarding plant-based meat products’
availability to the public?

The Government is seeking to reduce Hong Kong’s carbon emissions over the long term,
which will require substantial contributions from every member of society and changes to
our lifestyles and behavioural patterns.

ENB and EPD’s effort and action plan to combat climate change and promote low carbon
lifestyle could be found in the “Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2030+”
(https://www.enb.gov.hk/sites/default/files/pdf/ClimateActionPlanEng.pdf).

You may wish to know that the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) under the Department
of Health (DH) has published information regarding tips for a healthy and balanced
vegetarian diet on their website.
https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/static/90050.html

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has also published
information about food safety and advice to public regarding “Plant-based Meat and
Cultured Meat” on their “Food Safety Focus” website.
https://www.gov.hk/en/residents/health/foodsafe/healthyeating.htm
https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/multimedia/multimedia_pub/files/FSF159_2019_10_16.p
df