The Government today (October 8) announced Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050 (Full report, Pamphlet), setting out the vision of "Zero-carbon Emissions‧Liveable City‧Sustainable Development", and outlining the strategies and targets for combating climate change and achieving carbon neutrality.

The four major decarbonisation strategies in Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050 cover the following targets and measures:

- Net-zero electricity generation: Cease using coal for daily electricity generation; increase the share of renewable energy in the fuel mix for electricity generation to 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent by 2035, and to 15 per cent subsequently; and try out the use of new energy and strengthen co-operation with neighbouring regions to achieve the long-term target of net-zero electricity generation before 2050.

- Energy saving and green buildings: Reduce the overall electricity consumption of buildings through promoting green buildings, improving buildings' energy efficiency and promoting a low-carbon lifestyle. The goal is to reduce the electricity consumption of commercial buildings by 30 per cent to 40 per cent and that of residential buildings by 20 per cent to 30 per cent from the 2015 level by 2050, and to achieve half of the above targets by 2035. 

- Green transport: Achieve the long-term target of attaining zero vehicular emissions and zero carbon emissions in the transport sector before 2050, through the electrification of vehicles and ferries, development of new-energy transport and measures to improve traffic management. The Government will cease the new registration of fuel-propelled and hybrid private cars in 2035 or earlier. Apart from promoting electric buses and commercial vehicles, the Government also plans to collaborate with the franchised bus companies and other stakeholders in the next three years to test out hydrogen fuel cell electric buses and heavy vehicles.

- Waste reduction: To achieve the long-term target of carbon neutrality in waste management before 2050, the Government will strive to develop adequate waste-to-energy facilities by 2035, so as to move away from reliance on landfills for municipal waste disposal. The Government will also further promote waste reduction and recycling, and expects to implement waste charging in 2023 and regulate disposable plastic tableware in phases from 2025 onwards.