Green group: Set up a climate change authority

Friends of the Earth (HK) suggested Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu in his policy address setting up a climate change authority to coordinate related works of different government departments.

The green group chief executive Jeffrey Hung Oi-shing said the current arrangement of having a Commissioner for Climate Change in the Environment and Ecology Bureau is not enough and many governments around the world has special office overseeing the issue.

His comments came before Lee announcing the policy address on Oct 16.

He was disappointed at the government indefinite postponement of the waste charging scheme and suggested the government implementing it in all the public premises first so as to gather data for future use in the society.

Hung also urged Hong Kong has more collaboration with mainland China, where abundant renewable energy and hydrogen are available, and circular economy is practiced.

As an international financial center, Hong Kong can play more in green finance, Hung suggested the government establishing a climate risk assessment platform on physical risks and adaptation for Hong Kong, collaborating with other administrations on cross-border climate impacts and planning, and promoting taxonomy equivalence to better mobilize capital for net-zero transition. 

He also suggested the government extending the Continuing Education  Fund to cover eligible green finance courses.