“We need to put political differences and upheavals aside and work together to address urgent climate change issues,” he said. “If we don’t share the responsibility to act now, we will surely share the consequences of inaction later. We must act in concert.”
Chan added that finance and technology would be “key forces driving green transition” in the future and called for the scrapping of trade restrictions on new green technologies.
“Nothing should stop us from facilitating international financial and technological cooperation on green matters, nor should there be international trade barriers or restrictions on green products or goods such as new energy vehicles,” he said.
US President Joe Biden last month ordered an investigation into whether Chinese electric vehicles would pose a national security risk and demanded commerce authorities consider measures to protect the country’s “dynamic auto industry”.
California’s Garcia said that collaboration at the subnational level was important due to constantly shifting geopolitical dynamics.
“At times, at the global level, so much can shift and change,” she said on behalf of California Governor Gavin Newsom at the forum organised by HKU’s Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality.
“Our subnational and municipal partnerships in the San Francisco Bay Area in California and the Greater Bay Area in China share so much in common.”
Hong Kong energy giant CLP takes the nuclear option to hit decarbonisation goals
Hong Kong energy giant CLP takes the nuclear option to hit decarbonisation goals
The Greater Bay Area, a region of more than 86 million people, refers to Beijing’s scheme to integrate Hong Kong, Macau and nine mainland Chinese cities into an economic powerhouse.
Garcia added: “People relationships are among the most important things that we share in common. The exchange of ideas and the exchange of practices are critical to moving the needle forward to improve outcomes for our people.”
She also invited governments in the bay area to discuss two areas of collaboration – methane reduction and offshore wind utilisation.
In a panel discussion at the forum, the city’s commissioner for climate change, Wong Chuen-fai, said Hong Kong had managed to reduce 25 per cent of its carbon emissions in 2022.
Authorities were targeting bringing emissions further down to two-thirds of the 2005 level of 41.3 million tonnes next year, Wong added.
Hong Kong authorities in 2021 set a goal to halve carbon emissions by 2035 before achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Previously, they had only expected to reduce emissions by 26 per cent to 36 per cent by 2030.
Hong Kong government scales back trial run of waste charging, prompting criticism
Hong Kong government scales back trial run of waste charging, prompting criticism
Zhou Guomei, director general of the Chinese ministry of ecology and environment’s department of international cooperation, also gave an address on deepening collaboration on various matters.
“We will also cooperate to address climate change and engage in various bilateral and multilateral mechanisms on environmental protection cooperation,” she said on behalf of environmental minister Huang Runqiu.
She also said the Greater Bay Area had sufficient conditions to become the pilot zone of the “Beautiful China” initiative, an idea introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2022 to create a sustainable and eco-friendly nation.
Earlier this year, the State Council further developed the idea and provided guidance for strengthening environmental protection and decarbonisation.
“Extreme events of global climate change occur frequently. The international community must unite and cooperate to address them,” Zhou said.
“The Greater Bay Area has a unique position and advantage in connecting the mainland and the world. It is hoped that it can fully play its role as a bridge to explore a new model of regional cooperation.”
Hong Kong officials urged to clean up act, change waste-charging scheme tactics
Hong Kong officials urged to clean up act, change waste-charging scheme tactics
Deputy director general of Shenzhen’s municipal ecology and environment bureau, Wen Zhong, also said he was hoping to see more discussion of standards on charging electric vehicles due to more frequent traffic between Hong Kong and his city.
Governor Newsom visited Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and several other mainland China cities on a week-long tour last October to tout his state’s climate agenda, sparking ire from both his Democratic Party and the Republican Party amid rising US-China tensions.
During the trip, he visited HKU and had a fireside chat with its vice-president, Gong Peng, about how California’s climate policies could inspire the city.
