To celebrate this year’s Earth Day alongside the signing of the historic Paris Climate Agreement by 175 countries at the UN Headquarters in New York, CCA was greatly pleased to have co-organised the Launching Ceremony of Carbon Reduction in Hong Kong cum Earth Day Summit on April 22, 2016 with The Open University of Hong Kong and Friends of the Earth (HK). This 2016 Earth Day event was officiated by Mr K S Wong, Secretary for the Environment, JP and was well attended by over 300 representatives from the academia, business, professional bodies, NGOs and various other sectors of the society.

In the Summit entitled “From Paris Agreement to Post-Carbon Cities”, speakers from various sectors were invited to share their views on climate adaptation strategies and tools. Ir Albert Lai, CCA CEO, gave a review of his encounters and observations as a member of the Hong Kong NGO Delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (known as COP21) held in Paris last December. In his speech* focusing on the Paris Agreement highlights and the Hong Kong agenda, Ir Lai urged the Hong Kong government to set a clear target and agenda to steer the city towards zero-carbon economy. He pointed out that joining the Carbon Neutral City Alliance would be a good starting point for Hong Kong to mirror carbon reduction measures from other world cities. For innovative and concrete climate measures to take place, the government, the business sector and the civil society must act together.

CCA Director Mr John Sayer was a panelist at a panel discussion and open forum convened by Ir Albert Lai. The forum focused on how the civil society in Hong Kong could contribute to make our city carbon neutral.

During the event, participants also signed an Earth Day Pledge for Hong Kong 2016 initiated by the organizers, vowing that they or the organization they represent would take concrete steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a safe level and build resilience against those changes already occurring, and to facilitate the transition to a low-emission and climate resilient economy, they would support all initiatives to turn Hong Kong into a carbon neutral city, including any appropriate official move to join the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance.

*After the Summit, the contents of Ir Albert Lai’s speech were developed into a full-length article entitled “New Forces on Earth Day push for a Zero-Carbon Hong Kong”, which was published by the Hong Kong Economic Journal on 26 April, 2016. Please see:

http://www.carboncareasia.com/chi/news/press_releases/160426_press_release.php

Photo captions:

(Photos by courtesy of the Open University of Hong Kong)

1. The organisers pictured with officiating guest Mr KS Wong (3^rd left), Secretary for the Environment, and other guests at the Launching Ceremony of Carbon Reduction in Hong Kong cum Earth Day Summit on April 22, 2016.
2. Ir Albert Lai gave a speech on “Paris Agreement highlights and the Hong Kong agenda”. He also urged the Government to set clear targets to build a zero-carbon economy for Hong Kong.
3. CCA Director Mr John Sayer was one of the panelists at the panel discussion and open forum.
4. CCA CEO Ir Albert Lai (5^th right) and Director John Sayer (3^rd right) pictured with Ms Christine Loh, Deputy Secretary for the Environment (6^th right), who was invited to respond to the views raised at the summit.
5. A board was put up for guests to sign and show their support to the Earth Day Pledge for Hong Kong 2016 initiated by CCA, The Open University and Friends of the Earth (HK).