Public engagement process on green buildings launched

The Council for Sustainable Development launched a public engagement process to encourage stakeholders and the public to get involved in energy saving and energy efficiency in buildings.

Entitled "Combating Climate Change: Energy Saving and Carbon Emission Reduction in Buildings" to encourage stakeholders and the public to participate in the discussions on the concerns, incentives and possible action plans for the demand-side management of electricity consumption inbuildings.

This would in turn lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to combating climate change.

Mr Bernard Chan, the Chairman of the Council, said that with some 90 per cent of Hong Kong's electricity being consumed in buildings, accounting for about 60 per cent of the territory's greenhouse gas emissions, it was vital to engage the whole community in efforts to maximise buildings' energy efficiency and to reduce carbon emissions.  Mr Chan stressed that, while climate change and related issues may be too broad and sometimes too abstract for members of the public to comprehend, relating the topic to energy efficiency, energy and cost saving would help lay the context for solid action and implementation.

"The Council recognised that the management and efficient use of energy in buildings is an important area for combating climate change.  Hence the Council proposed to focus on four core building user groups: household, office, retail and catering," said Mr Chan.

The Council will organise five regional forums to engage the community and stakeholders so that they can share their views and comments.  In addition, more than 60 supporting organisations, including tertiary institutes, public authorities, research institutions, think tanks, green groups, non-governmental organisations, chambers of commerce and professional organisations, have been engaged to help disseminate information about this public engagement exercise.  To widen and deepen public awareness about the importance of combating climate change, public awareness and education programmes are being conducted in parallel with collaborating schools and NGOs.