Environment Bureau Environmental Protection Department ENVIRONMENT HONG KONG 2008
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13 Sustainable Development

 
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Mission

 

To promote sustainable development in Hong Kong.


PUBLIC INPUT IS NECESSARY


Highlights in 2007
  • The Council for Sustainable Development launched a public engagement process on Better Air Quality and received more than 80 000 views from the community on actions to take during high air pollution days, electronic road pricing and demand side management.
  • A bilingual booklet was published on projects funded by the Sustainable Development Fund.
  • The Sustainable Development School Award Programme was launched.
  • The School and Community Outreach Programmes continued to promote the concept of sustainable development in different sectors of the community.

Sustainable development centres on a simple but far-reaching goal: to improve and maintain our quality of life while protecting the environment. It can affect all aspects of people's lives, from economic and educational opportunities to health and social welfare, so it is imperative that everyone has a chance to air their views. In Hong Kong, the Government places high priority on engaging the public in how we define and implement our sustainability objectives. The Council for Sustainable Development, through its public engagement process and community outreach and school outreach programmes, reaches out to the public to canvass their views on key sustainability issues as well as promote the concept and practice of sustainable development. The Council made recommendations to the Government on the way forward for the key sustainability issues, which the Government puts into practice as far as practicable in formulating the long term way forward. The Government also sets a good example by requiring sustainability assessments of major policies and projects. Sustainability is a complex goal, but it can succeed with the broad understanding and support of the general community.

Sustainable Development



The Council for Sustainable Development

A First Sustainable Development Strategy for Hong Kong

The Council for Sustainable Development was set up in 2003 to promote sustainability in the community and foster public participation in formulating a sustainable development strategy for Hong Kong. It conducts public engagement exercises on key issues and having regard to the outcome, makes recommendations to the Government. Three such exercises have been conducted so far, which helped shape Government policies on the key sustainability issues concerned.

The first public engagement exercise concerned solid waste management, renewable energy and urban living space, and formed the basis of the Government's First Sustainable Development Strategy for Hong Kong. Released in 2005, the Strategy set out strategic directions and plans of action. For instance, it established targets for reducing municipal solid waste, set goals for the increased use of renewable energy and included a commitment that future development in the New Territories would take account of stakeholder concerns about protecting the natural environment and cultural character of rural areas.


The second public engagement exercise, in 2006, was on population policy. The Council produced a range of recommendations having regard to the public views received and in 2007 the Government accepted all the principles and targets put forward in the Council's report. Examples of the Council's recommendations included more open space and recreational provisions and more arts and culture development to enhance the quality of life; financial incentives and other support to promote parenthood; continued enhancement of current re-training programmes and talent admission schemes to cultivate quality manpower for Hong Kong; and the promotion of healthy and active ageing.

The most recent public engagement exercise was held in 2007 on a subject of great concern in Hong Kong: air quality. The Government has a wide-ranging programme to improve air quality, as described in the Air, Energy and Cross-boundary and International Co-operation sections, but there is always scope to do more. People's views were gathered on what actions to take during high air pollution days, electronic road pricing and demand side management in the engagement exercise.

More than 80 000 responses were received, indicating the high priority the public attaches to our air quality. The results are being drafted into recommendations that will be submitted to the Government in early 2008. Some of the ideas put forth include a colour-coded system to denote high air pollution days, road pricing for congested areas, cleaner fuel for road vehicles and marine transport, and incentives for cleaner electricity generation.

(From front left) The Star Ferry Pier, Clock Tower, HK Cultural Centre, HK Space Museum and HK Museum of Art at Tsim Sha Tsui.

(From front left) The Star Ferry Pier, Clock Tower, HK Cultural Centre, HK Space Museum and HK Museum of Art at Tsim Sha Tsui.
 

A public engagement session on high air pollution days.

A public engagement session on high air pollution days.


Our work in schools

Students conduct a survey to collect public opinion about an urban renewal project in Mong Kok for a sustainability promotion project.

Students conduct a survey to collect public opinion about an urban renewal project in Mong Kok for a sustainability promotion project.
 

Giving presentations on sustainable development to students is a key part of the School Outreach Programme.

Giving presentations on sustainable development to students is a key part of the School Outreach Programme.
One of the Council's major objectives is to raise awareness of the young people on the concept of sustainable development and encourage them to adopt sustainable practice in their daily lives.  The Council also aims to create a sustainable development network among different sectors in the community. With that in mind, it has devoted considerable effort to promote the concept of sustainable development and its practice to various sectors of the community and educate the younger generation.

In 2007, a Sustainable Development School Award Programme was launched to give recognition to schools that encourage students to help promote sustainable development concept in their daily lives and spread the message to their families and their community. Fifty-three schools are participating and they will be required to submit a report on their activities by the end of 2008. Schools that join at least three events or activities sponsored by the Council or the Sustainable Development Fund (see below), or related activities organised by the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education, will be eligible for a Bronze Award. Participating schools that initiate a campaign or project to promote sustainability among their students, or involve parents, local residents, or other local organisations and institutions in promoting sustainable development in the community, will qualify for higher awards.

In addition, the Council has been operating a School Outreach Programme for six years to promote sustainable development in schools and encourage students to adopt sustainable lifestyle through presentation and interactive discussions. About 200 schools have been visited and more than 47 000 students and teachers have participated in these sessions.


Our work in the community

The Council has developed a Community Outreach Programme, modelled on the School Outreach Programme. It was launched in 2006 to enhance public awareness of sustainable development and encourage sustainable practices at district level. Five events have been co-organised with recipients of the Sustainable Development Fund and the respective District Councils of the areas in which the funded projects took place.

The Sustainable Development Fund was set up in 2003 with a $100 million reserve and provides a central source of funding to institutions and other organisations to conduct their own sustainable development projects. By the end of 2007, it had provided $14.5 million to fund 18 projects run by various non-government and community organisations, academic institutes, schools and individuals. In May 2007, the Council published a booklet introducing these projects and report on their progress.

The Council and Environment Bureau's goal is to bring sustainability concepts into the community and encourage participation. Our on-going work helps enhance public understanding on sustainability principles in society, and enable people to give informed, thoughtful input on the development of sustainability in Hong Kong.

Students participate in a field trip organised by the Sustainable Development Fund recipient to raise awareness of sustainability issues.

Students participate in a field trip organised by the Sustainable Development Fund recipient to raise awareness of sustainability issues.
 

A representative of the Sustainable Development Council speaks to participants at a Community Outreach Programme event.

A representative of the Sustainable Development Council speaks to participants at a Community Outreach Programme event.


Looking Ahead
Looking Ahead
 
  • The Council for Sustainable Development will present its recommendations on Better Air Quality to the Government.
  • The sixth round of applications for the Sustainable Development Fund will be conducted.
  • An Award Presentation ceremony will be held for the Sustainable Development School Award Programme.

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