Is Hong Kong ready to go green? We wanted to know what real Hong Kongers think about sustainability, so we went straight to the source.
In our Consumer Report Hong Kong 2023, we surveyed over 1,000 Hong Kong residents about their environmental attitudes and habits. Our research shows that 93% of respondents expressed concerns about sustainability and environmental issues, with 50.8% reporting they’re deeply worried about our planet’s future.
Our survey dug deeper to understand:
- How are Hong Kongers changing their daily habits to be more sustainable?
- What environmental issues matter most to residents?
- Are people willing to pay more for sustainable products and services?
- How do they view government initiatives and corporate responsibility?
In this article, we’ll break down our findings and explore how they reflect Hong Kong’s journey toward sustainability. From waste management to green transportation, we’ll look at how public sentiment aligns with current initiatives and what it means for the city’s future.
Sustainable Actions in the Daily Life of Hongkongers
While 93% of Hong Kong residents express concerns about environmental issues, the gap between awareness and action remains significant. Our survey reveals that food waste reduction leads the sustainable efforts, with 17.9% of respondents actively avoiding food wastage in the previous month. This action is crucial given that Hong Kong generates 3,353 tonnes of food waste daily, with households responsible for 68% of this waste.
The scale of Hong Kong’s environmental challenge is substantial: the city produces 9,440 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily – enough to fill three Olympic-sized swimming pools. At 1.53 kg per person per day, Hong Kong’s waste generation rate is nearly double that of Tokyo, highlighting the urgency for change.
Energy conservation emerges as the second most common environmental action, with 13% of respondents making conscious efforts to reduce their energy consumption. Transportation choices also play a significant role, as 12.7% of residents opted for walking, cycling, or public transit as their primary mode of transportation.
While 9.3% of respondents report separating their trash and using refillable items, these numbers suggest room for growth, especially considering Hong Kong’s annual waste volume of 6.4 million tonnes. The city’s Waste Blueprint 2035 sets an ambitious target of zero landfills through waste reduction and resource circulation strategies.
The contrast between environmental concern (93%) and current participation rates in sustainable practices points to a critical opportunity: converting widespread awareness into concrete daily actions that can help address Hong Kong’s environmental challenges.
Green Building and Urban Planning in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is increasingly prioritizing green building and urban planning to foster sustainability and combat carbon emissions. The property sector alone contributes to 60% of the total carbon emissions in the city. With 85% of buildings in Hong Kong being over a decade old, extensive retrofitting is required to achieve the government’s target of carbon neutrality by 2050.
A promising opportunity for sustainable transformation lies in utilizing Hong Kong’s untapped rooftop space. By adopting nature-based decarbonization practices and exploring the use of natural insulation, these rooftops can be converted into green areas for both insulation purposes and rooftop farming. With approximately 6 million square meters of viable rooftop space available, this innovative approach to rooftop usage holds immense potential for maximizing resource utilization and enhancing sustainability in Hong Kong.
Moreover, the government has implemented initiatives such as the Building Environmental Assessment Method (BEAM Plus), which promotes sustainable design and construction practices. Guidelines like the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines (HKPSG) emphasize sustainable development principles and the preservation of green spaces. Additionally, designated Eco-Areas and public engagement ensure inclusive decision-making. These efforts aim to promote sustainability in Hong Kong and reduce environmental impact, enhance livability, and create a resilient and sustainable built environment in the city.
Sustainable Transportation in Hong Kong
Hong Kong faces the unique challenge of managing one of the world’s densest and busiest road networks, accommodating over 787,000 licensed vehicles across approximately 2,130 kilometres of roads. However, private car ownership and motorization rates in the city remain relatively low due to the high costs associated with imported vehicles, insurance, road tolls, and parking fees. In 2020, the average number of registered private cars per 1,000 inhabitants was a mere 76.7, reflecting the influence of cost factors on car ownership, a similar situation observed in Singapore. Read more on Why Car Ownership in Singapore is an Extravagance.
To address the transportation needs of its population, Hong Kong boasts one of the world’s best public transit systems, with public transport accounting for around 90% of daily passenger movements. However, transportation still contributes significantly to the city’s carbon emissions, responsible for an estimated 20% of total emissions. Recognizing the importance of sustainable transportation, the Hong Kong government has implemented several initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and enhance air quality.
In December 2020, the Government’s Innovation and Technology Bureau unveiled the “Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong 2.0,” an updated plan that outlines various measures to promote an environmentally sustainable urban transport system. These measures include making new towns more bicycle-friendly, upgrading ferry services with green technology applications, and initiating the electrification of public transport and commercial vehicles. The government has allocated HK$80 million for a pilot program focused on electric minibuses in 2023, with an additional HK$180 million earmarked for trial runs of single-deck electric buses. These concerted efforts aim to curb emissions and foster a greener and more eco-friendly transport system in Hong Kong.
Despite the progress made in recent years, Hong Kong still has a long way to go in terms of electric vehicle (EV) readiness. While the percentage of newly registered private cars that are electric vehicles has risen substantially over the past decade, from a mere 0.1% in 2010 to 12.4% in 2020, the overall number of private EVs remains relatively low. At the end of last year, private electric vehicles accounted for less than 3% of the total number of private cars, amounting to approximately 18,100 vehicles. Hong Kong will need to further accelerate its efforts to achieve widespread adoption of EVs and meet its sustainability goals in the transportation sector.
Encouragingly, there is widespread enthusiasm among Hong Kongers for electric vehicles, with an impressive 88% of the population believing that EVs are the future of the automotive industry. This positive sentiment provides a strong foundation for continued progress in EV adoption and the pursuit of a greener transportation landscape in Hong Kong.
Sustainable Consumption and Green Lifestyle in Hong Kong
Sustainable consumption and the adoption of green lifestyles are gaining momentum in Hong Kong as the city strives to create a more environmentally conscious society. The concept of sustainable consumption encompasses a range of practices aimed at minimizing the use of natural resources, reducing toxic materials, and limiting waste and pollution while improving the overall quality of life. To achieve sustainable consumption goals, collaboration between consumers, businesses, and the government is essential in making Hong Kong a sustainable and livable city.
A recent 2021 study conducted by the Consumer Council (the Council) of Hong Kong aimed to track consumers’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours regarding sustainable consumption. The study found that when it comes to their willingness to pay extra for products or services aligned with sustainable consumption principles, an overwhelming majority (87%) of respondents expressed their readiness to pay an additional 5% or more.
This finding aligns with the results of our study, where a majority (69.9%) of Hong Kongers reported their willingness to pay a higher price to cover the additional costs associated with sustainable and responsible production of goods and services. Moreover, 19.2% of respondents in that study indicated that they were very willing to pay more. However, the Council’s study revealed that over one-third of respondents perceived the availability of such products in the market as insufficient or completely lacking. This highlights the need for increased availability and accessibility of sustainable products in the market.
The journey towards sustainability in Hong Kong is evident through its concerted efforts in waste management, green building, urban planning, sustainable transportation, and responsible consumption. With the support of its residents, government, and businesses, Hong Kong has the potential to become a global leader in sustainability, showing that a bustling metropolis can transition successfully to a greener and more sustainable future.
