GUARDIANS OF OUR FUTURE

Our Mission

To promote sustainable development in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's approach to sustainable development is quite simple: everyone in society benefits from more sustainable practices, so everyone should be encouraged to have a say on what those practices should be. The Council for Sustainable Development (SDC) conducts public engagement exercises on issues of pressing concern in Hong Kong to get public input on the way forward and take a measure of the priority that people give to particular topics.

In 2011 and 2012 public engagement focused on energy saving and carbon emission reduction in buildings – a topic that connects local actions to the global impact of climate change and touches every person in Hong Kong. Ninety per cent of electricity here is consumed by the very buildings where people live, study and work. The way we use these buildings could help us to reduce our impacts on the environment, to the benefit of present and future generations.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR: A SUMMARY

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

In 2012 the SDC released the results and recommendations from the 2011 public engagement on "Combating Climate Change: Energy Saving and Carbon Emission Reduction in Buildings". The Government welcomed the report and announced measures in five areas to carry forward the goal of reducing energy use in buildings:

Further details on these initiatives are in Combating Climate Change: A Community Endeavour.

OTHER OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

Sustainable Development Fund: This fund supports community projects that promote sustainable development. Six projects received a total of $7 million in 2012. Since the fund was established in 2003, 51 projects have received a total $49.3 million (see Funding Good Ideas).

School Outreach Programme: School-based activities on sustainable development, including dramas, talks and workshops, were organised for students in the 50 schools enrolled in the programme in 2012.

School workshop on sustainable development

School workshop on sustainable development

School drama on sustainable development

School drama on sustainable development

School Award Programme: This programme recognises schools that adopt sustainability practices on campus and promote sustainability to families and local communities. The Fourth Round in 2012 attracted 47 participating secondary schools.

School Award Programme recognises schools that adopt sustainability practices on campus and promote sustainability to families and local communities.

School Award Programme recognises schools that adopt sustainability practices on campus and promote sustainability to families and local communities.

SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT

Government bureaux and departments are required to assess and describe the sustainability implications of all major initiatives submitted to the Policy Committee and Executive Council, and in public consultation documents. These are processed by the Sustainable Development Division of the ENB, which handled 137 sustainability assessments in 2012.

LOOKING AHEAD