Between August and November 2020, leaders in China, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong all announced specific dates by which to achieve carbon neutrality. These long-term targets are a welcome development as they give a clear signal that the region’s governments acknowledge the era of emissions of greenhouse gases must end and that a low carbon economy must be built as a key development plank.
However, this is just the beginning of the beginning. Business and finance in Hong Kong and Singapore should take heed of the likely sets of new rules and regulations and also be prepared to participate in action plan frameworks developed by their government for a safer, healthier and fairer future for all sectors of the society.
This issue also attempts to identify the challenges arising from the path to zero emissions for the government of China, Hong Kong and Singapore.