《巴黎協定》旨在與⼯業化前的⽔平相比之下，寄望將全球變暖限制⾄1.5攝⽒度以內。為了實現這項⽬標，全球要在2030年前要將⼆氧化碳排放量減少⾄⼀半，才能作出迅速⽽有效的轉變，以致於2050年或之前達到淨零碳排放。在香港，⾏政總裁林鄭⽉娥亦在2020年施政報告中提到香港要在2050年之前實現淨零碳排放的決⼼。
根據其2030年將排放量減少26％⾄36％的承諾，政府發布了《香港氣候⾏動藍圖2030+》，以引導緩解嚴重影響城市氣候的有關⾏業的碳排放量，包括建築物，交通運輸和廢物處置。現時私營部⾨為實現政府2050年淨零碳排放的⽬標實踐了那些措施？
踐諾淨零碳排放的⾏動正正推動各企業立下更具宏⼤的⽬標。⽬前香港有八個⾏業當中領先的公司已⾃願致⼒參與實踐出⾃「科學基礎減量⽬標倡議」中的減碳⽬標。透過恰當的制定和計劃，可靠的公司將可以⾃願地為實現香港2050年淨零碳排放的⽬標做出貢獻。
但是，各公司⾃定的零碳排放⽬標情況實在千差萬別，這使公眾和投資者很難區分真正的減碳努⼒和漂綠⾏為。雖然有些公司設定了雄⼼勃勃的零碳排放⽬標以符合攝⽒1.5度的⽅針 ，但仍有其他公司尚未宣布相關確切⽬標。此外，並非每家公司都透露其計劃的時間表來概述如何實現減排⽬標。
不過，我們仍然應該讚揚⽬前商業領域中的努⼒。這可以幫助公司規劃有關淨零碳排放的措施，並協助施加他們於有關⾏業以外的影響⼒，以激勵整個經濟範圍內的⾏動，以推動香港實現淨零碳排放的⽬標。
領先者有望通過分享各技術專長給其他步伐落後的公司，並與他們合作，從⽽激勵對⽅，甚⾄互相私加壓⼒。領先企業還可以分享⾒識和經驗，作為相關政策和法規之參考。例如，它們可以推動政府放鬆有關創建⽅⾯的官僚體制，以使最新的減碳技術能得到更廣泛的採⽤。
此外，儘管政府和私營企業的努⼒非常重要，但如果沒有公眾的參與，香港的淨零碳排放的⽬標就無法實現，有賴⼤家採取有意識的個⼈⾏動來減少飲食，消費和旅⾏中的排放。
倫敦政治經濟學院地理與環境系本科⽣ Melissa Leung
The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to preindustrial levels. To fulfil such goals, global carbon dioxide emissions need to be halved by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 through rapid and profound transformations. In Hong Kong, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced in her 2020 policy address the city’s ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
In line with its commitment to reduce emissions by 26 to 36 per cent by 2030, the government has published its Climate Action Plan 2030+ to guide mitigation of emissions in sectors that contribute significantly to the climate crisis in urban areas, including buildings, transport and waste. What has the private sector done to support the government’s 2050 net zero ambition?
Net zero represents a movement that drives businesses to create more ambitious new targets. Already, leading companies from eight industries in Hong Kong have committed to carbon reduction targets as part of the voluntary Science Based Target Initiative. If established and planned well, credible voluntary corporate targets can contribute to the achievement of Hong Kong’s 2050 net zero goal.
However, the varied landscape of corporate net zero targets makes it difficult for the public and investors to differentiate between genuine efforts and greenwashing. While some firms have set ambitious net zero targets in line with a 1.5 degree future, others have not announced an exact target. Moreover, not every company has disclosed timelines outlining how they plan to achieve their emission reduction targets.
Nonetheless, well-intended efforts in the business sector should be praised. This can help firms plan their net zero approaches as well as allow them to exert influence beyond their direct operations on other actors to incentivise economy-wide action to advance Hong Kong’s net zero goals. Pace-setters are expected to lead stragglers by sharing technical expertise and collaborating with them, thereby incentivising or even pressuring their peers to race to zero.
Leading businesses can also share insights and experience to inform policies and regulations. For example, they can nudge governments to relax bureaucratic barriers on innovation to enable wider adoption of carbon-reduction technologies.
Also, while efforts by the government and private businesses are vital, Hong Kong’s net zero ambitions cannot be realised without the public playing its part – with conscious individual actions to reduce emissions in diet, consumption and travel.
Melissa Leung, undergraduate student, Department of Geography and Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science