Reported by Zoey Sun, Lynn
Promoting sustainable development through innovative technology has become a critical global agenda. On Dec. 13, the "Pathways To A Sustainable Future" forum, was held in Hong Kong. The event was co-organized by Friday Culture Limited, the Hong Kong Coalition, and DotDotNews.
The forum opened with a video address from Chief Executive John Lee, with distinguished attendees including Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration Mr. Cheuk Wing-hing, Secretary-General of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in HKSAR Mr. Wang Songmiao, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR Mr. Li Yongsheng, Deputy Secretary-General of the Hong Kong Coalition Mr. Cheung Chi-kong, Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group Mr. Wang Kaibo, and Chairman of Friday Culture Ltd Prof. Herman Hu.
In his speech, Lee emphasized HK's dedication to supporting sustainable development through green finance. He pointed out that HK is steadily advancing toward becoming a global green finance center. With the HK Monetary Authority introducing the action agenda encompassing eight goals in four areas, Lee further stated that banks in HK will strive to achieve net zero in their own operations by 2030, and in their financed emissions by 2050.
The forum included two sub-forums: "Green Businesses and Beyond" and "Innovation Drives A Green Future", where international leaders and scholars exchanged insights on sustainable development.
Moderated by Dr. Henry Ho, Founder and Chairman of One Country Two Systems Youth Forum, the "Green Businesses and Beyond" session explored topics such as green financing, carbon neutrality, talent acquisition, leveraging opportunities from China's Belt and Road Initiative, and strengthening collaboration in the Greater Bay Area.
Mr. Johannes Hack, Vice Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in HK, highlighted HK's active role in global financial affairs and its leadership in setting sustainable finance standards. He expressed confidence in HK's potential to influence ASEAN and other regions, while also noting room for improvement in embedding sustainability into daily life.
Mr. Joseph Law, Managing Director of CLP Power, emphasized that decarbonizing HK's electricity sector could address over 80% of its carbon emissions. He advocated for the electrification of transportation infrastructure and carbon trading to achieve net-zero emissions. Law also shared CLP's experience in aiding Belt and Road countries through energy development and its role in improving energy efficiency in the Greater Bay Area.
Mr. Nick Chan, Director of the Asian African Legal Consultative Organization's Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre, underscored HK's unique position in carbon trading. He cited HK's strong academic resources, which equip local talent to serve global markets. Chan also emphasized the potential of blockchain technology to revolutionize the renewable energy sector and enhance financial services.
Mr. Paul Pong, Founder of the Institute of ESG and Benchmark, noted that ESG practices are a growing trend in societal development. However, HK currently faces a shortage of ESG professionals. He urged the government to strengthen ESG-related training programs. Pong also highlighted the economic potential of China's carbon trading market, suggesting that a robust carbon trading system in HK could attract significant investment.
The "Innovation Drives A Green Future" session brought together experts and officials from the environmental protection department, the University of Hong Kong (HKU), City University of Hong Kong (CityU), and the World Green Organisation (WGO) to discuss the role of technological innovation in driving sustainability.
Director of Environmental Protection Dr. Samuel Chui outlined HK's climate action plan, which leverages technology to reduce carbon emissions. He noted HK's successful infrastructure projects over the past two to three decades, such as flood and typhoon control systems, and its aspirations to become a hub for international sustainable development.
HKU Vice President (Academic Development) and Chair Professor of Global Sustainability Gong Peng announced the establishment of a climate association at HKU, dedicated to promoting technology management and market leadership. He stressed the importance of addressing human needs alongside technological advancements to avoid blindly following tech trends.
CityU Senior Vice President (Innovation and Enterprise), Prof. Michael Yang, emphasized that government policies, rather than academic development, are the primary barriers to applying green technologies. He also pointed out that technologies can enhance business productivity in the green economy.
Mr. Albert Oung, Founder and President of the WGO, said that humanity should aim for higher living standards alongside sustainability. He highlighted China's increasing presence in United Nations discussions on sustainability as evidence of its leadership in this field.
Prof. Witman Hung, Global Council Member of the World Summit Awards, concluded that sustainable development requires collective efforts from all participants, not just individual nations or cities. He also emphasized the need for greater public awareness of sustainability issues.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Cheung Chi-kong highlighted China's pivotal role in global sustainable development. He pointed to China's "3060" goals (carbon peaking by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060) and its integration of "ecological civilization" into the national constitution, reflecting the country's deep commitment to environmental protection. Cheung reaffirmed China's resolve to drive sustainable development through innovation and collaboration, creating a better future for generations to come.
Related News:
Comment