Business Environment Council Limited 商界環保協會有限公司 (“BEC”) launched on 1 December 2015 its Hong Kong Climate Resilience Roadmap for Business (the “Roadmap”), which draws out the action that businesses need to take to ensure resilience in the face of inevitable change, as well as measures by the Government to facilitate effective action.
Developed by BEC Climate Change Business Forum Advisory Group (“BEC CCBF AG”), the Roadmap highlights the impact of climate change on Hong Kong, analyses the risks to the city’s six key business sectors: transport, property, construction, manufacturing, finance and energy, and provides a set of recommendations.
The Roadmap seeks to embed a process of carrying out climate change assessments, developing and implementing plans, and benchmarking performance combined with co-operation between business, as well as building knowledge and fostering innovation. On the other hand, it encourages the Government to establish appropriate platforms to enable regular dialogue with business on climate change related matters, enhance institutional arrangements for inter-bureaux-departmental collaboration, and set climate change-related long term policies, goals and implementation plans.
Ms Christine Loh, JP, Acting Secretary for the Environment of the HKSAR Government, said that the Government would be pleased to find periodic dialogue opportunities with business players on climate change issues. She also stressed the importance of both the Government and business sectors working together to make Hong Kong climate resilient.
Also at the launch event, Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Mr Chi-ming Shun said, “We are happy to see the Roadmap increasing the community’s awareness about climate change. We need to be prepared to adapt to the New Normal. Besides, supporting relevant research will be able to help Hong Kong deal with the challenges brought by climate change.”
Mr Eric Chong, Chair of BEC CCBF AG mentioned that Hong Kong would need to be climate resilient, "Our government has a clear desire to improve the environment and has climate change on its agenda. Our businesses recognise their role in this important topic and have taken the necessary steps to get involved. Raising awareness among business to work on climate change is the foundation in the long term. Together we are working to make Hong Kong less vulnerable."
The Executive Summary of Hong Kong Climate Resilience Roadmap for Hong Kong can be assessed at BEC’s website at: http://www.bec.org.hk/files/downloads/BEC_Hong_Kong_Climate_Resilience_Roadmap_for_Business.pdf
Photo caption
Group photo of Ms Christine Loh, Acting Secretary for the Environment (5th right, front row), Mr Chi-ming Shun, Director of the Hong Kong Observatory (5th left, front row), Mr. Eric Chong, Chair of BEC Climate Change Business Forum Advisory Group (4th right, front row) and Ms. Agnes Li, CEO of BEC (2nd right, front row), as well as BEC Directors and members of BEC Climate Change Business Forum Advisory Group
Business Environment Council brings together the government officials and business professionals to have a panel discussion on climate change
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Please click here for Chinese version of the press release (中文版).