This is an auto-email for acknowledgement, please do NOT reply.
Thank you for your email dated 2022/02/07.We shall process it, where
appropriate, as soon as possible. For further enquiry, please address to
[Environment Bureau request email]
(This is a computer generated auto-reply)

這是一封用於確認的自動電子郵件，請不要回覆。
謝謝你 2022/02/07 的電郵。我們會盡快處理。如有其他查詢，請電郵
[Environment Bureau request email]
﹝這是由電腦系統發出的覆函﹞

Environmental Protection Department
環境保護署

Dear Renata,

Thank you for your email dated 07.02.2022.
Further to the auto-reply, we would like to inform you that our staff are
processing your enquiry.

Regards,
Will Kwok
(General Enquiry Mailbox)
Environmental Protection Department

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Dear Renata

Our department has received your application for access to information on
07.02.2022.  Your application is now under processing.  According to
paragraph 1.16 of the Code on Access to Information, our department will
inform you of the latest progress of the case separately on or before
25.02.2022.  In the meantime, please contact me via email
([email address]) if you have any enquiry."

Thank you very much.

Regards,
Bryan SUEN
Environmental Protection Officer
MHKIQEP
Cross-Boundary & International Group
Environmental Protection Department
Hong Kong SAR
Tel: (852) 3521 1780
Fax: (852) 2838 2155

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Dear Renata,

Referring to your enquiry dated 7 February 2022, please find below our
reply (in blue) corresponding to your inquiry.

Q1)        In this document
[1]https://www.climateready.gov.hk/files/pd... we
found that the government plans to phase out coal and replace it with
natural gas by 2035. But it is not clear how HK can achieve carbon
neutrality by 2050 if we keep burning natural gas. Could you explain
explicitly how the city would achieve carbon neutrality by 2050? And how
electricity will be generated in a zero-carbon way?

The Chief Executive announced in her Policy Address in 2020 and 2021
respectively that Hong Kong would strive to achieve carbon neutrality
before 2050 and to reduce Hong Kong’s total carbon emissions from the 2005
level by half before 2035.

The Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2050 published in October 2021 set out
the four decarbonisation strategies to deal with the three largest sources
of emissions, i.e. electricity generation, transport and waste. The four
strategies are:

“Net-zero electricity generation” – we will cease using coal for daily
electricity generation by 2035 and replace it with other low-carbon and
zero-carbon energy.  On top of that, we will also increase the share of
renewable energy in the fuel mix for electricity generation to 7.5% to 10%
by 2035 and to 15% gradually thereafter.  We will also try out the use of
new zero-carbon energy for electricity generation and strengthen
cooperation with neighbouring regions to raise the share of zero-carbon
energy in the fuel mix to about 60% to 70% before 2035, with a view to
achieving the long term target of net-zero carbon emissions in electricity
generation before 2050.

“Energy saving and green buildings” – Our goal is to reduce the
electricity consumption of commercial buildings by 30% to 40% and that of
residential buildings by 20% to 30% from the 2015 level by 2050, and to
achieve half of the above targets by 2035.  This will be achieved through
promoting green buildings, improving building energy efficiency and
stepping up efforts to lead a low-carbon lifestyle.

“Green transport” – We will achieve the long-term target of attaining zero
vehicular emissions and zero carbon emissions in the transport sector
before 2050, through the electrification of vehicles and ferries,
development of new-energy transport and measures to improve traffic
management.  The Government will cease the new registration of
fuel-propelled and hybrid private cars in 2035 or earlier.  Apart from
promoting electric buses and commercial vehicles, the Government also
plans to collaborate with the franchised bus companies and other
stakeholders in the next three years to test out hydrogen fuel cell
electric buses and heavy vehicles.

“Waste reduction” – To achieve the long-term target of carbon neutrality
in waste management before 2050, the Government will strive to develop
adequate waste-to-energy facilities by 2035, so as to move away from
reliance on landfills for municipal waste disposal.  The Government will
also further promote waste reduction and recycling, and expects to
implement waste charging in 2023 and regulate disposable plastic tableware
in phases from 2025 onwards.

Combating climate change is a long-term task that requires unwavering
efforts.  We will, in line with the spirit of the Paris Agreement, conduct
a review about every five years to keep up with the times.

Q2)        How much carbon dioxide was released from burning natural gas
in 2020 in HK? What will the figure be in 2035?  How does these two
figures compare to the HK’s goal with reference to Paris Climate
Agreement?

The Hong Kong’s greenhouse gases (GHG) emission inventory for 2019 can be
found from the following link:
[2]https://www.climateready.gov.hk.  
The inventory for 2020 will be released in due course.

In 2019, about 26,300 kilotonnes of carbon emissions were from electricity
generation with coal, natural gas nuclear energy imported from the
Mainland accounted for about 44%, 29% and 27% of the fuel mix
respectively.

As the power companies have gradually replaced coal-fired power generation
with natural gas power generation, preliminary estimation shows that the
per capita carbon emissions would be reduced from the peak level of 6.2
tonnes in 2014 to about 4.5 tonnes in 2020.  Hong Kong would strive to
achieve carbon neutrality before 2050.

In pursuing the strategy of net-zero electricity generation, we will
explore different options, including the use of new energy and closer
cooperation with neighbouring areas, to increase the supply of zero-carbon
electricity in our fuel mix for electricity generation to about 60% to
70%.  We can expect a significant drop in carbon emissions from
electricity generation.  The fuel mix for electricity generation in 2035
has not been determined, but we will take into account the four criteria,
namely reliability, safety, affordability and environmental performance,
in developing a diversified fuel mix for electricity generation.
 
The goal of Paris Agreement is to limit global temperature rise to well
below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to
pre-industrial levels.  This goal is to be achieved by reaching global
peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and to achieve a
climate neutral world in mid-century.  Hong Kong had already reached the
peak of carbon emissions in 2014, and will strive to achieve carbon
neutrality before 2050.

Q3)        In this paper [3]https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jup.2015.09.001 the
authors argue that HK has the potential to adopt carbon capture (CC)
technologies. What has the government done to explore CC as a solution for
decarbonization?  

Technological advancement plays an important role in our decarbonisation
efforts.   To press ahead with deep decarbonisation for the purpose of
proactively mitigating climate change, we need to adopt the technologies
that are relatively mature and cost-effective.  However, most of the
technologies of capturing and storing carbon dioxide are still at the
development stage and are not ready for wide and cost-effective
application.  The Government will continue to step up promotion of
innovation & technology (I&T) development and re-industrialisation,
encourage research and development (R&D) on and trial of decarbonisation
technologies with a view to facilitating their application in different
areas.  In 2020, the Government allocated $200 million for setting up the
Green Tech Fund to provide better and more focused funding support for R&D
projects which can help Hong Kong decarbonise and enhance environmental
protection, thereby helping Hong Kong pursue the target of striving to
achieve carbon neutrality.  While supporting local I&T development, we may
also explore growth opportunities through cooperation with neighbouring
regions, such as strengthening exchanges and collaboration with cities in
the Greater Bay Area in building low-carbon communities, developing
decarbonisation technologies, promoting low-carbon products and nurturing
talent.

Q4)        The paper refers to the Hong Kong–Yacheng pipeline as a
potential infrastructure for transporting carbon dioxide. Please provide
info this Bureau has about the pipeline such as its current status. To
what extent does the government consider it feasible to use the pipeline
for carbon dioxide transportation?  

China National Offshore Oil is the main owner of the Hong Kong-Yacheng
pipeline and the CLP Power Hong Kong Limited has been importing natural
gas through the pipeline since 1996.  As regards the current status of the
pipeline, you may like to approach the above organisations for
information.

Thank you for your concern for the environment.

Regards,
Bryan SUEN
Environmental Protection Officer
MHKIQEP
Cross-Boundary & International Group
Environmental Protection Department
Hong Kong SAR
Tel: (852) 3521 1780
Fax: (852) 2838 2155

From:        Bryan PH SUEN/EPD/HKSARG
To:        Renata Fraiha <[FOI #964 email]>
Cc:        EPD_Enquiry/EPD/HKSARG@EPD
Date:        14/02/2022 17:13
Subject:        Fw: Application under the Code on Access to Information -
Information about Carbon Neutrality [Ref. EPD801/14/2022]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Renata

Our department has received your application for access to information on
07.02.2022.  Your application is now under processing.  According to
paragraph 1.16 of the Code on Access to Information, our department will
inform you of the latest progress of the case separately on or before
25.02.2022.  In the meantime, please contact me via email
([email address]) if you have any enquiry."

Thank you very much.

Regards,
Bryan SUEN
Environmental Protection Officer
MHKIQEP
Cross-Boundary & International Group
Environmental Protection Department
Hong Kong SAR
Tel: (852) 3521 1780
Fax: (852) 2838 2155

show quoted sections